Chapter 4.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
…The next morning Harry and Hermione raced to Dumbledore's office. Ron tagged along not knowing anything about anything.
"Guys-where-are-we-going?" he asked. As they reached Dumbledore's office Hermione said, "Does this answer your question?" A muffled 'I guess' could be heard. The girl knocked on the big oak door.
"Mmm hmm?" was audible from inside. Harry and Hermione pushed open the door. Sirius sat on a red chair reading a book that Harry was not able to see the name. Dumbledore was nowhere in sight.
"Where's Dumbledore?" Harry asked. Ron, realizing who this was, gasped.
"Ministry, trying to get me a trial," he grinned. Harry knew what that meant.
"You're Sirius Black!" Ron said.
"And you're a Weasley!" Sirius laughed. Harry and Hermione chuckled.
"It's not funny! He almost killed me with a knife!" he accused.
"Not you, the rat." Ron furrowed his brows together.
"Scabbers?"
"That's what you call him?" Sirius asked.
"What does it matter?" Ron said sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Nothing. I was just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat," the teen retorted.
"And satisfaction brought it back. Everyone always forgets that part," Sirius said calmly.
"You're getting off the subject," Ron accused.
"I am, aren't I?" Sirius was completely relaxed.
"Ron, he's innocent. Professor Dumbledore is trying to get him a trial," Harry explained to his friend.
"That's exactly what he wants you to think," Ron warned. Sirius laughed.
"You sound like one of those people in a muggle movie," he said.
"You've seen muggle movies?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, Lily took James to them some times. After the third one James dragged me with to suffer with him," Sirius sighed. "Those were the days."
"No Sirius, these are the days," Hermione piped up.
"I didn't expect to see you three so early," Professor Dumbledore came up from behind.
"Hello Professor," Sirius said.
"How many times have I told you? Call me Albus, I'm not your teacher anymore," Dumbledore said.
"Did you manage to get him a trial, Professor?" Harry asked.
"I did. Only one thing…" Sirius groaned.
"There's always a price, isn't there?" he asked.
"You have to turn yourself in."
"What's the point? Why don't they just give me Veritaserum? I'm sure nobody wants to be there anyway," Sirius sighed.
"There will be only ministry members and witnesses. And anyone close," Dumbledore added glancing at the trio.
"How do we know he's telling the truth?" Ron asked.
"I tested him with Veritaserum. Quite handy if you ask me," Professor Dumbledore replied wryly. "Well, like I said yesterday, I expect you to be in your classes today, and not a minute late." That was obviously a dismissal.
The trio led themselves out of the office. Once down the stairs Ron asked, "What was that about?"
So Harry and Hermione started explaining about Peter and Sirius and James and Lily. All Ron said in reply was "Oh".
~@~@~@~@~@~@~
"Sirius Black, you have been charged with a part of the murder of James and Lily Potter. How do you plead?"
"Innocent."
Gasps went around the crowd that day of the trial. Harry, Ron, and Hermione smiled at each other. Cornelius Fudge and Barty Crouch traded looks of disgust meant for Sirius.
"Excuse me, innocent?" Crouch asked again.
"You heard me, innocent," Sirius said again. Crouch snapped his fingers for Veritaserum.
"Sirius Black, you will be given Veritaserum to make sure you are completely truthful," Crouch explained.
"Oh lovely," Sirius rolled his eyes. A little ministry man came down with a vial with a nasty, green, liquid enclosed within. He man tilted back Sirius' head intending to pour the vile substance down his throat. Sirius stopped him. "If you do it I'll be sure to choke."
"Do you want to do it Mr. Black?" Fudge asked.
"On your leave minister," Sirius grasped his noise and chugged the vile liquid and coughed. The trio looked at each other in concern. Crouch stepped forwards.
"Please state your name," he ordered.
"Sirius Black."
"Have you ever used Veritaserum before now?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Albus Dumbledore. I was found innocent."