Chapter Five
Rats
Harry ran up the stairs and way from the portraits. He streaked passed the rustic red living room where the fire was dying and up the clean oak stairs the swirled upward. He stopped at the top. The hall was now a little longer and sharper. There were portraits of the Black family in between doors and surprisingly, they all greeted Harry warmly. The first door to his right read, "Girl Dormitory" and the first on the left said, "Boy Dormitory." He snickered. Harry edged his way father down the hall. The next door he met was one on his right and it said, "The Noble and Most Ancient Room of Black." Harry guessed this was the room Angel was talking to Mrs. Black early that evening about. He continued down the hall.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Harry spinned around to see Ron starting toward him.
"Looking around." Harry answered.
"You're not allowed in there." Ron pointed at the next door.
"And why not?" Harry asked as he moved closer.
"Because it's Angel's room." Ron followed Harry. They were standing in front of the door now. There was a Gryffindor flag on the door reading under the name, "Sirius Isis Black" on a black name plate edged in ruby red. Harry spinned around to look at Ron and Ron smiled boyishly. "She is down stairs crying, might not be up for awhile."
"Do you think we should though?" Harry asked.
But Ron didn't have time to answer. "Ron, Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione came walking toward them. "You know Angel doesn't want anyone in there."
Ron rolled his eyes and walked back towards the boy's dorm without a word. Harry just looked at Hermione. "Why does she sleep in Sirius's room?"
"No idea, but I figured she would have changed the name on it at least." Hermione shook her head shrugged and followed after Ron leaving Harry there to stare at the name on the door, daring not to open it. What if this really was Sirius's room and what if some of his stuff was still in there. what if a part of Sirius was still alive?
Harry woke up early the next morning. He reached for his glasses and looked around the room. On the opposite wall there were nine bed, each black iron with denim blue colored sheets. Trunks sat at the end of each bed and a nightstand in between each one. There were pictures and posters and calendars and flags handing over each bed and nightstand. At the end of each bed was engraved a person sleeping in the bed's name. Harry sat up and messed with his hair. Number 12 Grimmauld Place had changed so much since he last saw it. The large wall size window on the other end of the room was clean and clear and black drapes closed off the night from view. Here was a cabinet by the door for broom sticks and a door on Harry's side of the room leading to a huge six person bathroom. Harry pulled on a sweater of his pj's and left the room. A few of the beds were empty besides Harry's.
Harry silently opened the door and walked out into the hall, closing the door softly behind him. Angel came down the hall just then. She had on long dark jeans, a green tank top and a black robe. Her hair was freshly curled at the end and she was carrying Peter under her arm as she flipped through the Daily Prophet. "Good Morning Harry," She greet as she passed, but she didn't look up. Kreacher was at her heals smiling widely up at Angel.
"Good Morning," Harry said as he rushed to catch up.
Angel didn't say another word till she got to the kitchen. "Sit down Harry, I was about to make breakfast." Harry did as he said. Angel placed Peter and the paper on the table. "What are you doing up so early?"
"I don't know. just couldn't go back to sleep I guess." Harry answered as he went for the paper. "How about you?"
"I always get up early, been up for about 3 hours now. I made breakfast and pack lunch for some of the Order. Author had to go to work, Dumbledore had to get back to Hogwarts and Dung had a "business meeting" somewhere." Angel chuckled.
Angel finished a bunch of eggs and bacon and toast. She chopped up watermelon, apples, oranges and lemons. She put a jug of coffee on and then fixed herself and Harry a plate. "Err. I'm not that hungry." Harry replied seeing all the food.
"Oh, I know. that's for the others, they leave at different times. Fred and George leave around nine or so, Bill around nine thirty. Charlie doesn't leave. humm. and then Hermione and Ron get up when they are good and ready to." Angel smiled as she sat a plate for of eggs and bacon down in front of Harry. "It's just so breakfast is ready when they get down here." Angel sat down across from Harry and drank her coffee.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked with a mouth full of food.
"Ministry of Magic." Angel announced pleased with herself.
"Why?" Harry just chocked down his bacon.
"For Peter." Angel said now tracing the lid of the jar with her finger.
"Why?" Harry repeated.
Angel smiled sweetly and stared at Harry. "He left me with the Malfoy's, sold your parents to Voldemort." She said a matter of factly. "And I need to clear my father's name."
"What did he do to your dad?" Harry asked, now forgetting his food and concentrating on Angel.
Angel smiled. "The answer might scare you." Her eyes twinkling and you could easy think she was some kin to Dumbledore the way they did as his.
"Try me." Harry said jokingly.
"You asked for it." Angel smiled, leaned over the table and got in Harry's face. "He got my dad thrown in Azkaban for murders he didn't commit and a betrayal he would never had done." Angel smile was now hard and stern.
Harry looked at her. He cocked his head and watched her lean away. She was the last Black. her dad was in Azkaban for murder and betrayal, neither of which he did. "Sirius?" was all he could say. Angel just looked at him as through trying to tell him with her eyes. "Sirius is your dad. but he never.. He would have.. He didn't say anything."
"He wouldn't have. he didn't know." Angel looked at her hands, and she was fighting back tears. "My mom went to Italy six months before I was born. she came back and told everyone she adopted me. My mom was dating Sirius at the time. he use to tell me I was the prettiest little girl he ever did see and when he married my mum, he would be my dad." Angel wiped her dry eyes and looked up.
"What happened?" Harry's voice was shaking.
"My mum knew that Peter was the Secret Keeper, your mum told her. So, Peter killed my mom and then took me to Lucas. Lucas always wanted a daughter and he was one of the better Malfoy's if there ever was one, so he took me in, sent me to Durmstrang and never told me the truth." Angel stood and picked up her mug and Harry's plate.
"How did you know then?" Harry asked hitting the side of Peter's jar.
Seri paused as though picking her words carefully, then she said, "My mum had the inner eye and gave it to and I just knew. I used to follow Sirius around. when he got out of Azkaban I thought he was going to come take me away. but he ran after you instead." Angel cut her words off sharply. Harry's bottom fell out. He shook his head and stood up, messing with his hair.
"Angel. Sirius. Sirius Angel." Harry stuttered "Can I come to London with you, for the trail. Hermione and Ron could come too. We all heard the story that night."
Angel turned around and looked at him. "You really want to help?" She whispered.
"Well. yeah. I mean Sirius was my god father and by all means it was my fault he.." Harry cut off. "The least I can do is clear his name."
"Thanks Harry." Angel said softly. "But, it wasn't your fault and he's not dead."
"WHAT?" Harry gasped.
"Come on, do you really thing a half ass curse from Bella and a veil are going to stop him." Angel said, laughter hanging in her eyes. "You better go wake up Ron and Hermione if they're coming, I have a nine o'clock hearing. Oh and Harry. Happy Birthday." Harry smiled at this. it was his birthday. and for time he could recalled, he was happy it was.
Comfort swam him, everyone was touch and go about the subject of Sirius and no one would really say he was dead, he could tell by the way they said his name, but Angel. she really didn't believe he was dead. Harry jumped up the stairs. He woke up Ron and ran across the hall to the girl's room. It was exactly the same as the boys; beds on either side with pictures and flags hanging about the bed. Their were even the same night stands in between the bed, trunk at the end of each bed, a locker for their brooms and even the large wall size window. The only difference was that lilac purple replaced the blue and dark gray replaced the black of the boy's room.
He halted at the bed with "Hermione Granger" printed neatly at the foot. He sat on the side and shuck her awake. She smiled at him and yawned. "Happy birthday Harry." Harry just ginned, but remained staring at her. "What's up?"
"We're going to the hearing about Peter with Angel, get up and dressed." And with those words Harry sprang from her bed, out the door and into the boy's dorm to get dressed himself.
Twenty minutes later, Ron, Hermione and Harry met Angel at the bottom of the steps. She had her hood pulled up over her face, strands of curls running over her shoulders. She was clutching Wormtail's jar with both hands. "Are we ready?"
They nodded and walked out the door. "Are we walking to whole way?" whined Ron.
"No, we're just walking to Longbottom's. a block or two that way. We can use floo from there." Angel explained, point ahead of her.
"Longbottom? You mean Neville's house?" Hermione asked sweetly, jogging to keep up with the boys and Angel.
"No, not Neville, his great uncle, Algie. You might have heard the story about the uncle that dropped Neville out of the window. Algie is most proud of that one." Angel snickered and slowed down a little as they turned the corner.
A boy with a soccer ball tucked under his arm whistled at them. Ron stared at him blankly, Harry laughed, Angel rolled her eyes and Hermione waved. "Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron hissed as he pulled Hermione's arm down.
"I was just waving." She argued, looking back. "He was a cutie wasn't he?" Ron grew red and Hermione giggled.
"Oh, just a doll." Angel sighed sarcastically.
"Angel. how did you get a hearing so fast?" Hermione asked, finally pushing the pink from her cheeks.
"Fudge is plenty beat about the whole Dumbledore Harry thing last year. He is doing anything and everything to make him look good. capturing a hand full of Death Eaters looks good, don't you think?"
They turned another corner and crossed the street. Angel opened the door without knocking. "Good Morning Algie" she called into the house pleasantly.
"Morning Sun shine." Algie entered the room in his blue and white boxer, white shirt and robes. "Hello Harry, Ron. Hermione." He greeted with a smile.
"Don't get to nice Algie." Angel joked. She pushed passed him gently and entered his living room where a grand fireplace sat. Harry, Ron and Hermione hurried at her heels.
"Where are we going today beautiful?" Algie asked.
"Ministry." Angel answered shortly. "Ron, you first."
Ron picked up a handful of powder, stood in the fire and said clearly. "The Ministry of Magic." And he was engulfed with green flames. Hermione followed him, then Harry and finally Angel.
"Dust off," Angel ordered when she landed in a dirty floor.
"This isn't the Ministry." Ron stuttered nervously.
"Really? I wouldn't have known." Angel said. She checked on Wormtail and after she knew he was okay, she strolled out of the house with the three on her heels. "They don't have the floo powder system run into the Ministry anymore, anybody could come in at anytime." She announced. She walked to the nearest telephone booth and all four of them squealed in. She punched a few numbers and waited.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business." A voice called out from the receiver.
"Err. yes, Sirius Angel Black, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Peter Pettigrew here for a Death Eater's hearing at nine o'clock." Angel said sweetly, leaning toward the receiver as she spoke.
"Thank you." Said a cool female voice. "Visitors please take the badge and attach them to the front of your robes." Five badges came out. Each pinned them to their robes and Angel jinxed Peter's so it would stick to the jar.
Then, the telephone booth started to shake and they began melting into the ground. Ron smiled as he watched the world slip out of view.
They got off and stepped onto an elevator right next to where they got off. "Level One Please." Angel said clearly and the booth continued to move downward. It opened once or twice at different levels. Most of them got off the next floor after seeing Angel and the jar with "Peter Pettigrew Death Eater Hearing" on it.
Finally, the cold voice said, "Level one. the Minister of Magic and Court rooms."
"This is us," Angel drug them out of the elevator.
Just then Percy Weasley turned the corner only to yelp. "Malfoy.. I didn't think you were serious?"
"The name is Black, thank you, and yes I was serious." Angel handed the confused red head the jar.
"You silly little girl, this is a rat. you dare to make me believe that this. haha, this little rat is Peter Pettigrew." Percy nervously laughed.
"Yes it is Peter Pet." Ron started but Angel put a quick hand over his mouth.
"Nemrod, you have no right to tell me this. You have five minutes till 9 o'clock, and I plan on keeping my hearing time. Don't make me file a complaint, you only need one more." Angel said harshly.
Percy squealed and nodded, turning in the other direction. Angel smiled, looking very satisfied with herself. "Come on, we'll go get out seats." Angel led the way straight to the grandest doors the Ministry probably had. She threw them open. The court room was crowded; people were even standing up in the back. They all gasped as they walked in. Angel smiled with sass, held her head high and strutted down the room. Harry followed close behind, egger to get away from the eyes. He noticed the way she held herself and the way she glided across the room. Her face right now was errorless and the same glow that Sirius had in Snape's pensieve was upon her.
She took a seat at the table in front of the crowd, Ron, Hermione and Harry took seats beside her. Angel gracefully sat the rat on the table and collapsed her hands in front of her. The hush voices of the crowd began again, no doubt talking about what was going on.
"Order! Order!" Cried a voice in front of the room. The room hushed again. A man in Ministry robes stood in front of the Minister's chair where many other seats where. People came down toward the front. They were in lines of two and marching at the same speed. Harry turned his head away to suppress a chocking laugh; Professor Umbridge was marching in the back, her hair astray and her eyes baggy. Everyone in the room stood as Fudge entered the room. He quickly jogged down the way and took his seat next to a baffled Percy Weasley who just slipped in.
"Humm. humm.." Fudge cleared his thought. "Now, what is this mess about?" He directed at Angel. "Wait, I forgot. Sirius Angel Black.."
Angel stood and nodded.
"Wait! She's a Malfoy!" A lady shrieked from behind.
"I assure you my name is Black, the Malfoy's are my relatives, I was sent to live with them after my mother died." Angel said clearly, not turning to look at the owner of the out burst.
"Why not live with your father?" Fudge asked, leaning forward.
"That is part of the hearing Minister, so are we going to get to it or not?" Angel said coolly and the room took their seats. Harry turned around, this wasn't an angry or sad group as you might see in a court room it was a smiling, interested one, a group you might see seating in a movie theater laughing together at a punch line. But Harry had to admit, seeing Fudge's eyes bug out and him stutter was priceless.
"Err.well. yes. right you are Angel." Fudge flipped through the pages sitting in front of him. A smile formed on his face and he chuckled. "Peter Pettigrew. child he is dead."
"I assure you he is not." Angel said smoothly, combing her hair with her hand. She remained standing, staring at the faces behind Fudge, smiling weakly at the ones she knew.
Fudge shook his head oddly and flipped though the pages again. He stopped and read a bit and smiled again. "It seems your witnesses are three Hogwarts students? Why is that?" Fudge smiled wider this time. "And why is their story the same they gave me three years ago when trying to free the murder Sirius Black?"
Angel smile sweetly now, excitement burning in her eyes. "Because it's true. I would have asked Professor Snape and Remus Lupin, but I'm afraid Severus is to embarrassed about his lie and Remus is not taken seriously by many in the wizarding world." Her last words were hard and stern. Her eyes fell on Umbridge and she squirmed in her chair.
"Alright child, I need a good laugh. Defend Black by all means." Fudge leaned back in his chair, he crossed his hands in his lap and smiled at Angel.
"I will." Angel ruffled through some papers in front of her and sat down. "I'm going to ask you three to explain everything." She hissed at them.
"Why can't you. you know the story." Ron argued.
"Yes, I do, but the circumstances I do, won't hold in the court. They'll think I'm making it up." Angel said softly.
"Don't be difficult Ron." Hermione froze. "But we will have to explain how he got out. Harry and I could get in trouble and Buckbeak.." She trailed off.
"Don't worry, I won't let it get that far, just tell about the Whomping willow and maybe add the Dementors thing for a pity card." She hit Harry playfully on the shoulder. They all nodded.
"Well." Percy yelled.
"Well, I am going to start off with Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter telling their vision of what happened three years ago." Angel said sweetly.
Percy's eyes boring into Ron and Ron twitched slightly at them. Everyone else stared at Harry. "Harry Potter, did she say Harry Potter?" were the words hissed behind him.
None of them spoke. "Well it all started when we went to visit Hagrid." Hermione started. Then Ron and Harry started talking excitedly about how a black dog dragged Ron to the Whomping Willow, how Harry almost killed Sirius, how Lupin and Snape showed up. Between them they left out the part about the invisibility cloak and the Marauders Map and the story seemed to go alright with out it. Ron went on to explain how Remus and Sirius told them about switching the Secret Keeper and how Sirius tracked down Peter to kill him for what he did to Lily and James. The court room went into a loud conversation. Harry's thoughts went back to that night. He sank back down in his chair and held his head. His scar hurt. He had almost killed his god father that night. but would it had made a difference. he's dead now anyway.
"Order! Order!" Fudge yelled. "Now, I understand the part about Peter betraying Lily and James Potter, but you still say the Sirius went to kill Peter. Peter is dead and so are 13 innocent muggles."
"Would you shut up man?" Angle jumped up. "They have not finished their story yet. Hush!" The talking died and Fudge gently lowered himself down in his chair.
"As we were saying," Ron went on after a minute. "Sirius went to kill Peter because of what he did, but when he found him, Peter started screaming this story about how Sirius betrayed them and blasted the street up with the wand behind his back."
"Yes, and then he put a tickling charm or something on Sirius, turned into a rat and fled to the surer." Hermione jumped in.
"After he cut of his finger." Harry trailed off. "But that doesn't really make a difference now. he cut that whole hand off for Voldemort the night he came back." Harry said as though dreaming. He was still holding his head in his hands and touching the scar with his fingers. A gasped fled the room. No one spoke. Ron and Hermione sat down, knowing their story was over.
"Hem. hem.." Angel cleared her thought. "Now you may ask your questions Minister."
Fudge sighed and looked at her, his face was old and ugly. "You mean I caught the wrong one and he help Voldemort come back?" He said under his breath like a curse.
"It wasn't your fault Minister; I wouldn't have believed it if it had not been for what happened to Harry and his friend thee years ago." Angel said sweetly, though hint in her voice was only soothing, not truthful. Fudged nodded sadly. "Well, I guess I could show you prove of what they are.."
"Prove! What kind of prove can you possibly have?" Percy sput out, jumping to his feet. Everyone suddenly became aware of the rat in the jar in front of Angel. Women shrieked and some men pointed, words failing them.
"Sit down Weasley. though I might add, the way you act, you don't deserve to belong to the name!" Angel banged her fist on the table. "And if I weren't in court right now, I'd give you a right lecture, so sit down!" Percy melted into his seat lower and lower, hiding himself from view. Angel, now furious, undid the lid and held the rat up.
"It can't be." Fudge said, leaning forward and rubbing his eyes. "You mean the whole crack pot that Dumbledore fed me that year about Peter being Animagius was true? But he's not on record and Peter was never smart enough to figure it out for himself."
Angel smiled at this. "But Sirius and James were." The room gasped again. Harry smiled weakly though his head ache. it was like a movie, gasping and smiling and everything else at the right time.
"You mean to tell me that Sirius Black and James Potter where animagius?" Fudge spat.
"Yes I do, and I can prove it." She held Peter a little higher now. "Realveto!" Blue light filled the room and Wormtail fell to the floor with a thump. A man grew from the light, and when it finished, a pale, yellow haired man with wide pupils laid curled up in a ball.
"My word!" But this time is wasn't Fudge or Percy, it was a shaking old lady. Her face was red from anger but now her eyes were streaming. She ran up to the front and knelt beside Wormtail. "Petty.oh Petty, I thought you were dead!" The women cried, muffled tears, "I thought that horrible friend of yours killed you." The woman went into a fit again. This must be Mrs. Pettigrew. "Are you okay?"
Peter melted into her embarrass as though she was saving him. "Yes mum, I'm alright."
Just then the women dried her tears. She pushed Peter away and started screaming. "Good! You're well enough to be tortured." Peter's face went paler. "A DISCRACE TO THE FAMILY! POOR LILY AND JAMES, THEY WERE YOUR FRIENDS PETER, YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED FOR THEM. AND HAVE EARNED THAT ORDER OF MERLIN FIRST CLASS! I WISH YOU WOULD HAVE DIED. AND YOU SENT SIRIUS TO JAIL. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU PETER. BEFRIENDING YOU-KNOW-WHO, TRYING TO KILL HARRY."
"And killing Cedric." Harry said nastily under his breath.
"YOU KILLED AMOS'S SON! DEAR LORD. MINISTER, IF YOU DON'T KILL HIM, I WILL!" She yelled at Fudge who was pale now.
"Harry dear." Mrs. Pettigrew said softly trying to kill her angry. "I'm sorry, you have no idea how ashamed I am of what my son has done to you and your god father." Harry nodded, but looked at Angel. her teeth gritted slightly. He knew what she was thinking and knew what she wanting to yell. Her eyes were glazed over with tears. she was Sirius's daughter and why was everyone apologizing to Harry about what happened?
"Well, I think I've heard enough." Fudge said clearly. "Sirius Black will receive the Order of Merlin First Class and will be free of charge. that is if he registers his animagius before the week is out and Peter.."
"Minster. Sirius is will, he can't." Hermione said softly.
"Why is that girl?" Fudge demanded.
"He's dead" Ron stammered. Peter smiled weakly and Angel kicked him in the gut. Harry searched for Angel's eyes to see if she was going to argue the point she did with him that morning. but she wasn't that dumb.
"Oh.." Fudge said uneasily. the room grew silent. "Than his name is cleared. And Peter." someone behind him tapped him on the shoulder, Fudge smiled and nodded. Fudge took the sheet of paper from him. "In the case of being an illegal animagius, you are sentenced to 5 years in Azkaban. in the case of killing 13 muggles, life in Azkaban. in the case of killing Cedric Diggory. 50 years in Azkaban and for being a faithful follower of the Dark Lord and bring him back to life. death!" The word rolled off his lips in a smile. Harry stared at him. he should have let Sirius and Remus kill him three years ago.
Peter let out a cry of agony. Two men, dressed in Ministry grabbed him by each arm and drug him out of the court. "WAIT!" Angel yelled." HE'LL CHANGE INTO A." but not seconds after they were half way to the doors did Peter change into a rat. Everyone shrieked and pushed their way away from where he had changed. Angel sprinted down the room, sending every curse and hex she knew, even shouting the killing curse a one point, but her efforts failed. "SHUT DOWN! SEARCH THE MINISTRY HIGH AND LOW! DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY!" And even before the Ministry employees turned to seek approval from Fudge, they left following Angel's orders. Everyone was now on a search of a rat in the Ministry.
Harry ran up the stairs and way from the portraits. He streaked passed the rustic red living room where the fire was dying and up the clean oak stairs the swirled upward. He stopped at the top. The hall was now a little longer and sharper. There were portraits of the Black family in between doors and surprisingly, they all greeted Harry warmly. The first door to his right read, "Girl Dormitory" and the first on the left said, "Boy Dormitory." He snickered. Harry edged his way father down the hall. The next door he met was one on his right and it said, "The Noble and Most Ancient Room of Black." Harry guessed this was the room Angel was talking to Mrs. Black early that evening about. He continued down the hall.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Harry spinned around to see Ron starting toward him.
"Looking around." Harry answered.
"You're not allowed in there." Ron pointed at the next door.
"And why not?" Harry asked as he moved closer.
"Because it's Angel's room." Ron followed Harry. They were standing in front of the door now. There was a Gryffindor flag on the door reading under the name, "Sirius Isis Black" on a black name plate edged in ruby red. Harry spinned around to look at Ron and Ron smiled boyishly. "She is down stairs crying, might not be up for awhile."
"Do you think we should though?" Harry asked.
But Ron didn't have time to answer. "Ron, Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione came walking toward them. "You know Angel doesn't want anyone in there."
Ron rolled his eyes and walked back towards the boy's dorm without a word. Harry just looked at Hermione. "Why does she sleep in Sirius's room?"
"No idea, but I figured she would have changed the name on it at least." Hermione shook her head shrugged and followed after Ron leaving Harry there to stare at the name on the door, daring not to open it. What if this really was Sirius's room and what if some of his stuff was still in there. what if a part of Sirius was still alive?
Harry woke up early the next morning. He reached for his glasses and looked around the room. On the opposite wall there were nine bed, each black iron with denim blue colored sheets. Trunks sat at the end of each bed and a nightstand in between each one. There were pictures and posters and calendars and flags handing over each bed and nightstand. At the end of each bed was engraved a person sleeping in the bed's name. Harry sat up and messed with his hair. Number 12 Grimmauld Place had changed so much since he last saw it. The large wall size window on the other end of the room was clean and clear and black drapes closed off the night from view. Here was a cabinet by the door for broom sticks and a door on Harry's side of the room leading to a huge six person bathroom. Harry pulled on a sweater of his pj's and left the room. A few of the beds were empty besides Harry's.
Harry silently opened the door and walked out into the hall, closing the door softly behind him. Angel came down the hall just then. She had on long dark jeans, a green tank top and a black robe. Her hair was freshly curled at the end and she was carrying Peter under her arm as she flipped through the Daily Prophet. "Good Morning Harry," She greet as she passed, but she didn't look up. Kreacher was at her heals smiling widely up at Angel.
"Good Morning," Harry said as he rushed to catch up.
Angel didn't say another word till she got to the kitchen. "Sit down Harry, I was about to make breakfast." Harry did as he said. Angel placed Peter and the paper on the table. "What are you doing up so early?"
"I don't know. just couldn't go back to sleep I guess." Harry answered as he went for the paper. "How about you?"
"I always get up early, been up for about 3 hours now. I made breakfast and pack lunch for some of the Order. Author had to go to work, Dumbledore had to get back to Hogwarts and Dung had a "business meeting" somewhere." Angel chuckled.
Angel finished a bunch of eggs and bacon and toast. She chopped up watermelon, apples, oranges and lemons. She put a jug of coffee on and then fixed herself and Harry a plate. "Err. I'm not that hungry." Harry replied seeing all the food.
"Oh, I know. that's for the others, they leave at different times. Fred and George leave around nine or so, Bill around nine thirty. Charlie doesn't leave. humm. and then Hermione and Ron get up when they are good and ready to." Angel smiled as she sat a plate for of eggs and bacon down in front of Harry. "It's just so breakfast is ready when they get down here." Angel sat down across from Harry and drank her coffee.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked with a mouth full of food.
"Ministry of Magic." Angel announced pleased with herself.
"Why?" Harry just chocked down his bacon.
"For Peter." Angel said now tracing the lid of the jar with her finger.
"Why?" Harry repeated.
Angel smiled sweetly and stared at Harry. "He left me with the Malfoy's, sold your parents to Voldemort." She said a matter of factly. "And I need to clear my father's name."
"What did he do to your dad?" Harry asked, now forgetting his food and concentrating on Angel.
Angel smiled. "The answer might scare you." Her eyes twinkling and you could easy think she was some kin to Dumbledore the way they did as his.
"Try me." Harry said jokingly.
"You asked for it." Angel smiled, leaned over the table and got in Harry's face. "He got my dad thrown in Azkaban for murders he didn't commit and a betrayal he would never had done." Angel smile was now hard and stern.
Harry looked at her. He cocked his head and watched her lean away. She was the last Black. her dad was in Azkaban for murder and betrayal, neither of which he did. "Sirius?" was all he could say. Angel just looked at him as through trying to tell him with her eyes. "Sirius is your dad. but he never.. He would have.. He didn't say anything."
"He wouldn't have. he didn't know." Angel looked at her hands, and she was fighting back tears. "My mom went to Italy six months before I was born. she came back and told everyone she adopted me. My mom was dating Sirius at the time. he use to tell me I was the prettiest little girl he ever did see and when he married my mum, he would be my dad." Angel wiped her dry eyes and looked up.
"What happened?" Harry's voice was shaking.
"My mum knew that Peter was the Secret Keeper, your mum told her. So, Peter killed my mom and then took me to Lucas. Lucas always wanted a daughter and he was one of the better Malfoy's if there ever was one, so he took me in, sent me to Durmstrang and never told me the truth." Angel stood and picked up her mug and Harry's plate.
"How did you know then?" Harry asked hitting the side of Peter's jar.
Seri paused as though picking her words carefully, then she said, "My mum had the inner eye and gave it to and I just knew. I used to follow Sirius around. when he got out of Azkaban I thought he was going to come take me away. but he ran after you instead." Angel cut her words off sharply. Harry's bottom fell out. He shook his head and stood up, messing with his hair.
"Angel. Sirius. Sirius Angel." Harry stuttered "Can I come to London with you, for the trail. Hermione and Ron could come too. We all heard the story that night."
Angel turned around and looked at him. "You really want to help?" She whispered.
"Well. yeah. I mean Sirius was my god father and by all means it was my fault he.." Harry cut off. "The least I can do is clear his name."
"Thanks Harry." Angel said softly. "But, it wasn't your fault and he's not dead."
"WHAT?" Harry gasped.
"Come on, do you really thing a half ass curse from Bella and a veil are going to stop him." Angel said, laughter hanging in her eyes. "You better go wake up Ron and Hermione if they're coming, I have a nine o'clock hearing. Oh and Harry. Happy Birthday." Harry smiled at this. it was his birthday. and for time he could recalled, he was happy it was.
Comfort swam him, everyone was touch and go about the subject of Sirius and no one would really say he was dead, he could tell by the way they said his name, but Angel. she really didn't believe he was dead. Harry jumped up the stairs. He woke up Ron and ran across the hall to the girl's room. It was exactly the same as the boys; beds on either side with pictures and flags hanging about the bed. Their were even the same night stands in between the bed, trunk at the end of each bed, a locker for their brooms and even the large wall size window. The only difference was that lilac purple replaced the blue and dark gray replaced the black of the boy's room.
He halted at the bed with "Hermione Granger" printed neatly at the foot. He sat on the side and shuck her awake. She smiled at him and yawned. "Happy birthday Harry." Harry just ginned, but remained staring at her. "What's up?"
"We're going to the hearing about Peter with Angel, get up and dressed." And with those words Harry sprang from her bed, out the door and into the boy's dorm to get dressed himself.
Twenty minutes later, Ron, Hermione and Harry met Angel at the bottom of the steps. She had her hood pulled up over her face, strands of curls running over her shoulders. She was clutching Wormtail's jar with both hands. "Are we ready?"
They nodded and walked out the door. "Are we walking to whole way?" whined Ron.
"No, we're just walking to Longbottom's. a block or two that way. We can use floo from there." Angel explained, point ahead of her.
"Longbottom? You mean Neville's house?" Hermione asked sweetly, jogging to keep up with the boys and Angel.
"No, not Neville, his great uncle, Algie. You might have heard the story about the uncle that dropped Neville out of the window. Algie is most proud of that one." Angel snickered and slowed down a little as they turned the corner.
A boy with a soccer ball tucked under his arm whistled at them. Ron stared at him blankly, Harry laughed, Angel rolled her eyes and Hermione waved. "Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron hissed as he pulled Hermione's arm down.
"I was just waving." She argued, looking back. "He was a cutie wasn't he?" Ron grew red and Hermione giggled.
"Oh, just a doll." Angel sighed sarcastically.
"Angel. how did you get a hearing so fast?" Hermione asked, finally pushing the pink from her cheeks.
"Fudge is plenty beat about the whole Dumbledore Harry thing last year. He is doing anything and everything to make him look good. capturing a hand full of Death Eaters looks good, don't you think?"
They turned another corner and crossed the street. Angel opened the door without knocking. "Good Morning Algie" she called into the house pleasantly.
"Morning Sun shine." Algie entered the room in his blue and white boxer, white shirt and robes. "Hello Harry, Ron. Hermione." He greeted with a smile.
"Don't get to nice Algie." Angel joked. She pushed passed him gently and entered his living room where a grand fireplace sat. Harry, Ron and Hermione hurried at her heels.
"Where are we going today beautiful?" Algie asked.
"Ministry." Angel answered shortly. "Ron, you first."
Ron picked up a handful of powder, stood in the fire and said clearly. "The Ministry of Magic." And he was engulfed with green flames. Hermione followed him, then Harry and finally Angel.
"Dust off," Angel ordered when she landed in a dirty floor.
"This isn't the Ministry." Ron stuttered nervously.
"Really? I wouldn't have known." Angel said. She checked on Wormtail and after she knew he was okay, she strolled out of the house with the three on her heels. "They don't have the floo powder system run into the Ministry anymore, anybody could come in at anytime." She announced. She walked to the nearest telephone booth and all four of them squealed in. She punched a few numbers and waited.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business." A voice called out from the receiver.
"Err. yes, Sirius Angel Black, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Peter Pettigrew here for a Death Eater's hearing at nine o'clock." Angel said sweetly, leaning toward the receiver as she spoke.
"Thank you." Said a cool female voice. "Visitors please take the badge and attach them to the front of your robes." Five badges came out. Each pinned them to their robes and Angel jinxed Peter's so it would stick to the jar.
Then, the telephone booth started to shake and they began melting into the ground. Ron smiled as he watched the world slip out of view.
They got off and stepped onto an elevator right next to where they got off. "Level One Please." Angel said clearly and the booth continued to move downward. It opened once or twice at different levels. Most of them got off the next floor after seeing Angel and the jar with "Peter Pettigrew Death Eater Hearing" on it.
Finally, the cold voice said, "Level one. the Minister of Magic and Court rooms."
"This is us," Angel drug them out of the elevator.
Just then Percy Weasley turned the corner only to yelp. "Malfoy.. I didn't think you were serious?"
"The name is Black, thank you, and yes I was serious." Angel handed the confused red head the jar.
"You silly little girl, this is a rat. you dare to make me believe that this. haha, this little rat is Peter Pettigrew." Percy nervously laughed.
"Yes it is Peter Pet." Ron started but Angel put a quick hand over his mouth.
"Nemrod, you have no right to tell me this. You have five minutes till 9 o'clock, and I plan on keeping my hearing time. Don't make me file a complaint, you only need one more." Angel said harshly.
Percy squealed and nodded, turning in the other direction. Angel smiled, looking very satisfied with herself. "Come on, we'll go get out seats." Angel led the way straight to the grandest doors the Ministry probably had. She threw them open. The court room was crowded; people were even standing up in the back. They all gasped as they walked in. Angel smiled with sass, held her head high and strutted down the room. Harry followed close behind, egger to get away from the eyes. He noticed the way she held herself and the way she glided across the room. Her face right now was errorless and the same glow that Sirius had in Snape's pensieve was upon her.
She took a seat at the table in front of the crowd, Ron, Hermione and Harry took seats beside her. Angel gracefully sat the rat on the table and collapsed her hands in front of her. The hush voices of the crowd began again, no doubt talking about what was going on.
"Order! Order!" Cried a voice in front of the room. The room hushed again. A man in Ministry robes stood in front of the Minister's chair where many other seats where. People came down toward the front. They were in lines of two and marching at the same speed. Harry turned his head away to suppress a chocking laugh; Professor Umbridge was marching in the back, her hair astray and her eyes baggy. Everyone in the room stood as Fudge entered the room. He quickly jogged down the way and took his seat next to a baffled Percy Weasley who just slipped in.
"Humm. humm.." Fudge cleared his thought. "Now, what is this mess about?" He directed at Angel. "Wait, I forgot. Sirius Angel Black.."
Angel stood and nodded.
"Wait! She's a Malfoy!" A lady shrieked from behind.
"I assure you my name is Black, the Malfoy's are my relatives, I was sent to live with them after my mother died." Angel said clearly, not turning to look at the owner of the out burst.
"Why not live with your father?" Fudge asked, leaning forward.
"That is part of the hearing Minister, so are we going to get to it or not?" Angel said coolly and the room took their seats. Harry turned around, this wasn't an angry or sad group as you might see in a court room it was a smiling, interested one, a group you might see seating in a movie theater laughing together at a punch line. But Harry had to admit, seeing Fudge's eyes bug out and him stutter was priceless.
"Err.well. yes. right you are Angel." Fudge flipped through the pages sitting in front of him. A smile formed on his face and he chuckled. "Peter Pettigrew. child he is dead."
"I assure you he is not." Angel said smoothly, combing her hair with her hand. She remained standing, staring at the faces behind Fudge, smiling weakly at the ones she knew.
Fudge shook his head oddly and flipped though the pages again. He stopped and read a bit and smiled again. "It seems your witnesses are three Hogwarts students? Why is that?" Fudge smiled wider this time. "And why is their story the same they gave me three years ago when trying to free the murder Sirius Black?"
Angel smile sweetly now, excitement burning in her eyes. "Because it's true. I would have asked Professor Snape and Remus Lupin, but I'm afraid Severus is to embarrassed about his lie and Remus is not taken seriously by many in the wizarding world." Her last words were hard and stern. Her eyes fell on Umbridge and she squirmed in her chair.
"Alright child, I need a good laugh. Defend Black by all means." Fudge leaned back in his chair, he crossed his hands in his lap and smiled at Angel.
"I will." Angel ruffled through some papers in front of her and sat down. "I'm going to ask you three to explain everything." She hissed at them.
"Why can't you. you know the story." Ron argued.
"Yes, I do, but the circumstances I do, won't hold in the court. They'll think I'm making it up." Angel said softly.
"Don't be difficult Ron." Hermione froze. "But we will have to explain how he got out. Harry and I could get in trouble and Buckbeak.." She trailed off.
"Don't worry, I won't let it get that far, just tell about the Whomping willow and maybe add the Dementors thing for a pity card." She hit Harry playfully on the shoulder. They all nodded.
"Well." Percy yelled.
"Well, I am going to start off with Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter telling their vision of what happened three years ago." Angel said sweetly.
Percy's eyes boring into Ron and Ron twitched slightly at them. Everyone else stared at Harry. "Harry Potter, did she say Harry Potter?" were the words hissed behind him.
None of them spoke. "Well it all started when we went to visit Hagrid." Hermione started. Then Ron and Harry started talking excitedly about how a black dog dragged Ron to the Whomping Willow, how Harry almost killed Sirius, how Lupin and Snape showed up. Between them they left out the part about the invisibility cloak and the Marauders Map and the story seemed to go alright with out it. Ron went on to explain how Remus and Sirius told them about switching the Secret Keeper and how Sirius tracked down Peter to kill him for what he did to Lily and James. The court room went into a loud conversation. Harry's thoughts went back to that night. He sank back down in his chair and held his head. His scar hurt. He had almost killed his god father that night. but would it had made a difference. he's dead now anyway.
"Order! Order!" Fudge yelled. "Now, I understand the part about Peter betraying Lily and James Potter, but you still say the Sirius went to kill Peter. Peter is dead and so are 13 innocent muggles."
"Would you shut up man?" Angle jumped up. "They have not finished their story yet. Hush!" The talking died and Fudge gently lowered himself down in his chair.
"As we were saying," Ron went on after a minute. "Sirius went to kill Peter because of what he did, but when he found him, Peter started screaming this story about how Sirius betrayed them and blasted the street up with the wand behind his back."
"Yes, and then he put a tickling charm or something on Sirius, turned into a rat and fled to the surer." Hermione jumped in.
"After he cut of his finger." Harry trailed off. "But that doesn't really make a difference now. he cut that whole hand off for Voldemort the night he came back." Harry said as though dreaming. He was still holding his head in his hands and touching the scar with his fingers. A gasped fled the room. No one spoke. Ron and Hermione sat down, knowing their story was over.
"Hem. hem.." Angel cleared her thought. "Now you may ask your questions Minister."
Fudge sighed and looked at her, his face was old and ugly. "You mean I caught the wrong one and he help Voldemort come back?" He said under his breath like a curse.
"It wasn't your fault Minister; I wouldn't have believed it if it had not been for what happened to Harry and his friend thee years ago." Angel said sweetly, though hint in her voice was only soothing, not truthful. Fudged nodded sadly. "Well, I guess I could show you prove of what they are.."
"Prove! What kind of prove can you possibly have?" Percy sput out, jumping to his feet. Everyone suddenly became aware of the rat in the jar in front of Angel. Women shrieked and some men pointed, words failing them.
"Sit down Weasley. though I might add, the way you act, you don't deserve to belong to the name!" Angel banged her fist on the table. "And if I weren't in court right now, I'd give you a right lecture, so sit down!" Percy melted into his seat lower and lower, hiding himself from view. Angel, now furious, undid the lid and held the rat up.
"It can't be." Fudge said, leaning forward and rubbing his eyes. "You mean the whole crack pot that Dumbledore fed me that year about Peter being Animagius was true? But he's not on record and Peter was never smart enough to figure it out for himself."
Angel smiled at this. "But Sirius and James were." The room gasped again. Harry smiled weakly though his head ache. it was like a movie, gasping and smiling and everything else at the right time.
"You mean to tell me that Sirius Black and James Potter where animagius?" Fudge spat.
"Yes I do, and I can prove it." She held Peter a little higher now. "Realveto!" Blue light filled the room and Wormtail fell to the floor with a thump. A man grew from the light, and when it finished, a pale, yellow haired man with wide pupils laid curled up in a ball.
"My word!" But this time is wasn't Fudge or Percy, it was a shaking old lady. Her face was red from anger but now her eyes were streaming. She ran up to the front and knelt beside Wormtail. "Petty.oh Petty, I thought you were dead!" The women cried, muffled tears, "I thought that horrible friend of yours killed you." The woman went into a fit again. This must be Mrs. Pettigrew. "Are you okay?"
Peter melted into her embarrass as though she was saving him. "Yes mum, I'm alright."
Just then the women dried her tears. She pushed Peter away and started screaming. "Good! You're well enough to be tortured." Peter's face went paler. "A DISCRACE TO THE FAMILY! POOR LILY AND JAMES, THEY WERE YOUR FRIENDS PETER, YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED FOR THEM. AND HAVE EARNED THAT ORDER OF MERLIN FIRST CLASS! I WISH YOU WOULD HAVE DIED. AND YOU SENT SIRIUS TO JAIL. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU PETER. BEFRIENDING YOU-KNOW-WHO, TRYING TO KILL HARRY."
"And killing Cedric." Harry said nastily under his breath.
"YOU KILLED AMOS'S SON! DEAR LORD. MINISTER, IF YOU DON'T KILL HIM, I WILL!" She yelled at Fudge who was pale now.
"Harry dear." Mrs. Pettigrew said softly trying to kill her angry. "I'm sorry, you have no idea how ashamed I am of what my son has done to you and your god father." Harry nodded, but looked at Angel. her teeth gritted slightly. He knew what she was thinking and knew what she wanting to yell. Her eyes were glazed over with tears. she was Sirius's daughter and why was everyone apologizing to Harry about what happened?
"Well, I think I've heard enough." Fudge said clearly. "Sirius Black will receive the Order of Merlin First Class and will be free of charge. that is if he registers his animagius before the week is out and Peter.."
"Minster. Sirius is will, he can't." Hermione said softly.
"Why is that girl?" Fudge demanded.
"He's dead" Ron stammered. Peter smiled weakly and Angel kicked him in the gut. Harry searched for Angel's eyes to see if she was going to argue the point she did with him that morning. but she wasn't that dumb.
"Oh.." Fudge said uneasily. the room grew silent. "Than his name is cleared. And Peter." someone behind him tapped him on the shoulder, Fudge smiled and nodded. Fudge took the sheet of paper from him. "In the case of being an illegal animagius, you are sentenced to 5 years in Azkaban. in the case of killing 13 muggles, life in Azkaban. in the case of killing Cedric Diggory. 50 years in Azkaban and for being a faithful follower of the Dark Lord and bring him back to life. death!" The word rolled off his lips in a smile. Harry stared at him. he should have let Sirius and Remus kill him three years ago.
Peter let out a cry of agony. Two men, dressed in Ministry grabbed him by each arm and drug him out of the court. "WAIT!" Angel yelled." HE'LL CHANGE INTO A." but not seconds after they were half way to the doors did Peter change into a rat. Everyone shrieked and pushed their way away from where he had changed. Angel sprinted down the room, sending every curse and hex she knew, even shouting the killing curse a one point, but her efforts failed. "SHUT DOWN! SEARCH THE MINISTRY HIGH AND LOW! DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY!" And even before the Ministry employees turned to seek approval from Fudge, they left following Angel's orders. Everyone was now on a search of a rat in the Ministry.