Disclaimer: See Chapter 2
Chapter Three The Trial
Harry was wrong. He had sweet dreams about a girl on a broomstick. As he tried to fly higher she did too.
She yelled out in an American accent, "You'll have to try harder than that!"
Then they caught sight of the snitch and streaked of. Harry got there first and exclaimed, "I caught it. Now who are you?"
"I never said I'd tell you!"
Then Harry woke up. Ron was snoring hard as ever, which reminded Harry of a lion. Trying not to wake Ron, he slipped quietly downstairs. He saw Nina, she was crying, and went to sit with her.
"Good Morning," she said and Harry obliged. He then said, "It's hard, isn't it? Losing someone."
"I miss them every day", She continued, "You must be the only person in the world who knows what I'm going through".
"Well I just though maybe we could talk".
"Hermione told me about the one dude, Neville Longbottom", she said, "It's not your fault"
"Hermione put you up to talk about him?" Harry said.
"No, she just told me about it. I was going through the same thing you are. I was going to a muggle movie. My parents wanted to come, but I didn't want them to. I thought that they would be more vulnerable; they are muggles. They stayed at home and Voldemort killed them." Harry was amazed she said Voldemort without stuttering.
"That's not your fault, you were trying to protect them", said Harry defensively
"So were you" she replied. At that moment Mr. and Mrs. Weasly came in and told Harry that they were running late, so he would hurry. In half an hour Mr. and Mrs. Weasly with Harry arrived at the ministry. It was about a quarter till eight. Nina's words were still ringing in his head as he issued his wand for inspection. Hardly noticing where he was going Harry went with the Weaslys to courtroom ten. They sat down in the audience chamber.
Mr. Weasly muttered, "ics-nay on the namagus-ay" Harry nodded in agreement.
Fudge banged his gavel and said, "Order, Order in the court!"
He continued, "This court is now in session. Bring in the accused." At this point Sirius was dragged in with chains and seated at the chair wound him in more chains. Dumbledore was seated next to Fudge, along with Percy Weasly.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and said, "The defense would like to call its first witness, Remus John Lupin." Moony stood up and sat I a high chair in between Sirius and Dumbledore. As he past Harry, he gave him a wink. Dumbledore started questioning,
"Are you Remus John Lupin?"
Remus replied, "Yes."
"How long have you known the accused?"
"35 years"
"When was it that you were convinced of his innocence to the murders?"
"3 years ago"
"What made you feel this way?"
"I saw Peter Pettigrew, and he admitted to the murders, including being a deatheater and being the secret-keeper to Lilly and James Potter."
Fudge interrupted "How is it that Pettigrew would manage to stay hidden for so many years with no one recognizing him?"
"I am a werewolf. At school some of my friends, including Pettigrew became unregistered anamagi to keep me company during my transformations. Pettigrew's form was a mouse. No one alive except Sirius Black could have recognized him. Sirius did not manage to become an animagus, but he did see the mouse form of Peter quite a bit. Remember how the largest it of Peter they could find was his finger. That was s the Ministry would believe that Peter was blown to bits, when it was in fact Peter blowing everyone else to bits."
"No further questions, Your Honor." Dumbledore concluded.
Then he added, "I would like to call the final witness, Harry Potter." At this, there was quite a bit of murmuring which caused Fudge to bang his gavel again.
Dumbledore started the questioning by asking Harry's name. Harry replied, "Yes" before giving Sirius an encouraging wink.
"Do you agree with Remus John Lupin's testimony?"
"Yes"
"Is Sirius Black your godfather?"
"Yes"
"Has he ever shown signs of trying to hurt or dismember you?"
"No"
"How many times have you been with the accused alone?"
"At least twenty"
"How many other times have you been near or alone with a detheater when they did not attack?"
"None"
"Does Sirius Black have the Dark Mark?"
"No"
"Thank you Harry. No further questions."
As Harry headed back to his seat Mr. and Mrs. Weasly congratulated him and Dumbledore gave his final speech.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wizengamot. You have heard the facts. I support everything that the witnesses provided in the courtroom. As Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump, I plead with you to give this man what he deserves, JUSTICE!"
Dumbledore's speech was inspiring. Many of the people in the room were shaking their heads in agreement and applauding.
Fudge asked the Wizengamot, "Do you find this man innocent?" Twenty or so of the jury stood up. That was more than half! Sirius was free!
Fudge counted and announced, " Sirius Black is cleared of all charges and is awarded Order of Merlin First Class and the sum of 1 million galleons for he inconveniences. Court is adjourned." Harry jumped up and raced across to Sirius when the chains sprung of and hugged him. Remus came along and said, "Let him breathe Harry" Remus took a hug as Sirius said, "I am walking outside without shame on my face for the first time in nearly 16 years."
Chapter Three The Trial
Harry was wrong. He had sweet dreams about a girl on a broomstick. As he tried to fly higher she did too.
She yelled out in an American accent, "You'll have to try harder than that!"
Then they caught sight of the snitch and streaked of. Harry got there first and exclaimed, "I caught it. Now who are you?"
"I never said I'd tell you!"
Then Harry woke up. Ron was snoring hard as ever, which reminded Harry of a lion. Trying not to wake Ron, he slipped quietly downstairs. He saw Nina, she was crying, and went to sit with her.
"Good Morning," she said and Harry obliged. He then said, "It's hard, isn't it? Losing someone."
"I miss them every day", She continued, "You must be the only person in the world who knows what I'm going through".
"Well I just though maybe we could talk".
"Hermione told me about the one dude, Neville Longbottom", she said, "It's not your fault"
"Hermione put you up to talk about him?" Harry said.
"No, she just told me about it. I was going through the same thing you are. I was going to a muggle movie. My parents wanted to come, but I didn't want them to. I thought that they would be more vulnerable; they are muggles. They stayed at home and Voldemort killed them." Harry was amazed she said Voldemort without stuttering.
"That's not your fault, you were trying to protect them", said Harry defensively
"So were you" she replied. At that moment Mr. and Mrs. Weasly came in and told Harry that they were running late, so he would hurry. In half an hour Mr. and Mrs. Weasly with Harry arrived at the ministry. It was about a quarter till eight. Nina's words were still ringing in his head as he issued his wand for inspection. Hardly noticing where he was going Harry went with the Weaslys to courtroom ten. They sat down in the audience chamber.
Mr. Weasly muttered, "ics-nay on the namagus-ay" Harry nodded in agreement.
Fudge banged his gavel and said, "Order, Order in the court!"
He continued, "This court is now in session. Bring in the accused." At this point Sirius was dragged in with chains and seated at the chair wound him in more chains. Dumbledore was seated next to Fudge, along with Percy Weasly.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and said, "The defense would like to call its first witness, Remus John Lupin." Moony stood up and sat I a high chair in between Sirius and Dumbledore. As he past Harry, he gave him a wink. Dumbledore started questioning,
"Are you Remus John Lupin?"
Remus replied, "Yes."
"How long have you known the accused?"
"35 years"
"When was it that you were convinced of his innocence to the murders?"
"3 years ago"
"What made you feel this way?"
"I saw Peter Pettigrew, and he admitted to the murders, including being a deatheater and being the secret-keeper to Lilly and James Potter."
Fudge interrupted "How is it that Pettigrew would manage to stay hidden for so many years with no one recognizing him?"
"I am a werewolf. At school some of my friends, including Pettigrew became unregistered anamagi to keep me company during my transformations. Pettigrew's form was a mouse. No one alive except Sirius Black could have recognized him. Sirius did not manage to become an animagus, but he did see the mouse form of Peter quite a bit. Remember how the largest it of Peter they could find was his finger. That was s the Ministry would believe that Peter was blown to bits, when it was in fact Peter blowing everyone else to bits."
"No further questions, Your Honor." Dumbledore concluded.
Then he added, "I would like to call the final witness, Harry Potter." At this, there was quite a bit of murmuring which caused Fudge to bang his gavel again.
Dumbledore started the questioning by asking Harry's name. Harry replied, "Yes" before giving Sirius an encouraging wink.
"Do you agree with Remus John Lupin's testimony?"
"Yes"
"Is Sirius Black your godfather?"
"Yes"
"Has he ever shown signs of trying to hurt or dismember you?"
"No"
"How many times have you been with the accused alone?"
"At least twenty"
"How many other times have you been near or alone with a detheater when they did not attack?"
"None"
"Does Sirius Black have the Dark Mark?"
"No"
"Thank you Harry. No further questions."
As Harry headed back to his seat Mr. and Mrs. Weasly congratulated him and Dumbledore gave his final speech.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wizengamot. You have heard the facts. I support everything that the witnesses provided in the courtroom. As Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump, I plead with you to give this man what he deserves, JUSTICE!"
Dumbledore's speech was inspiring. Many of the people in the room were shaking their heads in agreement and applauding.
Fudge asked the Wizengamot, "Do you find this man innocent?" Twenty or so of the jury stood up. That was more than half! Sirius was free!
Fudge counted and announced, " Sirius Black is cleared of all charges and is awarded Order of Merlin First Class and the sum of 1 million galleons for he inconveniences. Court is adjourned." Harry jumped up and raced across to Sirius when the chains sprung of and hugged him. Remus came along and said, "Let him breathe Harry" Remus took a hug as Sirius said, "I am walking outside without shame on my face for the first time in nearly 16 years."