Trail
Kingsley walked down the corridor trying not to run after being told that a team had picked Sirius Black up that afternoon, he rounded the corner and there was already a crowd gathered outside of his holding ceil. He walked calmly through them, not that any of them were; Tonks ran up behind him.
"Is it true, is he in there?" Tonks asked not keeping her voice down.
"Yeah they got him this afternoon, out in the open he was." An Auror to her left answered.
"Right then, everyone clear the area now; unless you have a reason to be here." Kingsley announced.
Everyone started to talk but no one was moving, Tonks looked at him; they needed to get to Sirius but of course they couldn't talk to him now with everyone around like they were.
"Dumbledore." Someone behind them said, they both turned round and saw Dumbledore himself and Fudge walking over to them.
"Right then everyone, can you please clear the area part from the Auror's who had asked for." Fudge announced still no one was moving, well not to start with; they slowly started to clear out and let Dumbledore and Fudge through. "I should of just handed him over to the Dementor's, but you know how they are lately."
"Of course, though personally I wouldn't have them around at all if I could help it." Dumbledore told him. "Now Mr Black, we're here to prove his innocents once and for all."
"Really, there's no proof remember." Fudge said and then Kingsley stepped forward and handed him a vial.
"This potion should help, once he's drank it he can only speak the truth." Kingsley told him.
"Very good shall we get started?" Dumbledore said pleasantly.
Fudge looked over at him as he walked past with Kingsley and Tonks, they opened the door and walked in; Fudge quickly walked after them. They walked down the corridor and stopped in front of another door, Kingsley stopped in front of it while Tonks stood next to Dumbledore and they all looked to Fudge; who nodded.
Tonks carried on walking with Dumbledore and Fudge behind her, they went into another room. She stood by the door, while Dumbledore and Fudge sat down at the table; the room was empty beside the table and four chairs.
Kingsley unlocked the door and walked in, Sirius was sat on the bed in the corner; but he didn't look up. Kingsley walked over to him and pulled him to his feet.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?" Kingsley demanded in a whisper. "I really don't believe that you would do something as stupid as this; come on with ya."
Kingsley pushed him along; Sirius was still in shock about what he had just found out; all these years and they had kept it from him. The door opened by magic and Kingsley directed Sirius in and sat him down facing Dumbledore and Fudge.
"Sirius Black, do you know where you are?" Fudge asked him, but Sirius didn't answer he just looked blankly back at him. "You are at the Ministry of Magic, and I have agreed with Dumbledore to hear your side of the story or averts. Kingsley give him the potion."
"Right this potion will just make you tell the truth." Kingsley told him as he pulled it out of his inside cloak pocket, he gave it to Sirius who drank the whole thing and then gave the empty vial back.
"Right then, why don't we start with a few simple questions and then work ourselves up." Fudge suggested.
"I agree." Dumbledore said pleasantly.
"What's your name?" Fudge asked.
"Sirius Black." Sirius answered tonelessly.
"Were you the Potter's secret keeper?" Fudge asked.
"No." Sirius answered, but Fudge wasn't convinced.
"Then who was?" Fudge asked.
"Peter Pettigrew, we changed at the last minute; thinking that no one would ever suspect him." Sirius answered.
"Really, are you sure this potion thing is working?" Fudge asked Dumbledore. "I've got it. How did you escape Azkaban?"
Dumbledore looked at Sirius while both Kingsley and Tonks looked nervously at Dumbledore.
"I spent most of the time in my Animagi form, when you gave me the news paper and I saw peter in it and alive; I knew what I had to do." Sirius answered. "I changed and squeezed through the bars, and swam for the shore."
"Really, then what animal can you change into and why aren't you registered?" Fudge asked.
"Maybe we should stay on topic." Dumbledore suggested.
"This is on topic, we need to know everything Dumbledore; and that includes who he managed to escape." Fudge told him.
"I can change into a large black dog; I have been able to do so since fifth year at Hogwarts." Sirius answered. "When we found out that Remus Lupin was a werewolf we wanted to do something to make it easier on him when he transformed; werewolves don't attack animals so we learnt how to become Animagi."
"Well this is some story, who is we?" Fudge asked mildly interested. "And what can they change into?"
"James Potter, he could change into a stag and Peter Pettigrew could change into a rat." Sirius answered.
"So you're saying that he spent all those years as a rat and what?" Fudge asked.
"Yes, because he was waiting and he was afraid." Sirius answered.
"Afraid of what?" Fudge asked.
"He had just sold out and Voldermot lost his powers, he was afraid of the other Deatheaters, being court and if Voldermot came back he would balm him for what happened." Sirius answered.
"This all sounds far fetch." Fudge said looking over at Dumbledore.
"Then ask him to change for you." Dumbledore suggested. "If he can, then he has proven himself."
"I'm not to sure, what if..." Fudge said looking at Sirius and then back at Dumbledore. "Does this potion always work?"
"Yes, and I believe that you already know that of course." Dumbledore answered.
"If he can, then what do you want?" Fudge asked, though he didn't really want to know the answer.
"W want all charges to be lifted, a full paraded and for the Ministry to help in the war against Voldermot." Dumbledore said calmly. "And I'm sure that Mr Black will register his Animagi form, and will have a few things to add to the list himself."
"Fine." Fudge said turning back to Sirius. "I want you to change into your Animagi form."
Sirius pushed his chair back and stood up, he stepped out form behind the table so that he could be seen; and then with a pop he changed from a man into a large black dog before their eyes.
"I don't believe it." Fudge said staring at him.
"I'm sure that you can have everything seen to today Minister." Dumbledore said pleasantly. "You can change back now Sirius, oh and Kingsley if you don't mind to give him the antidote."
"No wait, why was he out in the street in the place?" Fudge asked Dumbledore.
"I'm sure that he can tell us that himself." Dumbledore said, but before Fudge could protest Kingsley had already given him the antidote.
Sirius seemed to come out of his trance, from the potion and from before; he walked round to Fudge who stepped away from him.
"So?" Sirius said.
"Well erm...yes...I'm...we're sorry...and I'll get onto that straight away." Fudge said quickly walking around him. "But of course you can't leave until we have; people still believe well...erm you know."
"That I'm a guilty murder." Sirius finished for him. "Well then you better sort that out then haven't you?"
Fudge quickly left the room leaving Sirius with Dumbledore, Kingsley and Tonks. Tonks ran forward and hugged him almost tripping over the hem of her cloak falling into his arms.
"This is great, you're free." Tonks said hugging him tightly.
"Yeah, it's kind of hard to believe though after all these years." Sirius said, he smiled at her as he pulled her away and turned to Dumbledore. "Can I have a word in pirate?"
"Of course." Dumbledore answered.
"Well done mate, I'll send an owl and tell them back at the house." Kingsley told him.
"No, I'll tell them when I get in." Sirius said.
"Are you sure, they're going to be worries sick; especially young Harry." Kingsley said.
"I'm sure." Sirius told him.
Kingsley turned to Dumbledore who nodded in agreement; Tonks hugged Sirius again before Kingsley directed her out of the room leaving Sirius and Dumbledore alone. Sirius turned back round to Dumbledore.
"Fudge did have a point, what was you doing out of the house after I told you to stay?" Dumbledore asked.
Sirius just looked at him for a moment. "Yeah that's right, if I would have stayed in the house; I would still be on the run and still in the dark."
"They could have handed you over to the Dementor's without even a question." Dumbledore told him.
"You laired to me all these years, I can't believe that you kept it from me after everything what had happened." Sirius said.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Dumbledore said, but of course Sirius didn't believe him.
"Of course you do, Hunter...the boy who they went out to find this morning." Sirius told him. "I found him, we had quite a talk. She's alive and you kept that from me, why? And, and she has a son...I have a son."
"Sirius, I am sorry that you had to find out the way you did." Dumbledore told him.
"You mean that you're sorry that I found out at all." Sirius shot at him. "I loved her, and you let believe for all these years that she was dead.
"I know how much you cared you, I am sorry; but that is why we thought that it best that you didn't know." Dumbledore told him. "If Voldermot would have found out about her and Owen, he would have used her against you."
"He already did, that's why I thought she was dead." Sirius shot at him. "Even Snape thinks she's dead, he doesn't have a clue...this is one thing that I know we'll agree on that you shouldn't have kept this a secret. I want to know where she is, now."
"I'm afraid that I can't tell you, and you can't tell anyone." Dumbledore told him. "Sirius you have just become a free man..."
"Yes, so I want my life back...she's part of that, don't you understand?" Sirius said, but he didn't wait for an answer before he walked out leaving Dumbledore stood there.
Sirius walked down the corridor with people staring at him half in shock and half in surprise that he was walking down a corridor in the Ministry of Magic; he walked straight into the Auror's department and down to Kingsley desk at the end. The walls of his both were full of pictures of him, which he tried to ignore as Kingsley looked up at him.
"I need you to find me someone." Sirius told him as he sat down on the chair next to the desk.
"Ok who?" Kingsley asked.
"An old friend from school, she's called Jocelyn Hunter...her son goes to Hogwarts he's in Ginny's year and I think Gryffindor." Sirius told him.
Kingsley looked at him for a moment, and then nodded.
"When you get the information, can you just give it straight over to me and no one else?" Sirius told him.
"Course mate." Kingsley said. "Are we going to the pub to celebrate tonight?"
"I didn't really think about it, but yeah why not." Sirius agreed smiling.
(A/N:- Right there's another chapter hoped you liked it, sorry didn't update sooner but I was busy yesterday. Thanks for all the reviews, you're all great for keep reading and hope to hear from you all soon.)
Kingsley walked down the corridor trying not to run after being told that a team had picked Sirius Black up that afternoon, he rounded the corner and there was already a crowd gathered outside of his holding ceil. He walked calmly through them, not that any of them were; Tonks ran up behind him.
"Is it true, is he in there?" Tonks asked not keeping her voice down.
"Yeah they got him this afternoon, out in the open he was." An Auror to her left answered.
"Right then, everyone clear the area now; unless you have a reason to be here." Kingsley announced.
Everyone started to talk but no one was moving, Tonks looked at him; they needed to get to Sirius but of course they couldn't talk to him now with everyone around like they were.
"Dumbledore." Someone behind them said, they both turned round and saw Dumbledore himself and Fudge walking over to them.
"Right then everyone, can you please clear the area part from the Auror's who had asked for." Fudge announced still no one was moving, well not to start with; they slowly started to clear out and let Dumbledore and Fudge through. "I should of just handed him over to the Dementor's, but you know how they are lately."
"Of course, though personally I wouldn't have them around at all if I could help it." Dumbledore told him. "Now Mr Black, we're here to prove his innocents once and for all."
"Really, there's no proof remember." Fudge said and then Kingsley stepped forward and handed him a vial.
"This potion should help, once he's drank it he can only speak the truth." Kingsley told him.
"Very good shall we get started?" Dumbledore said pleasantly.
Fudge looked over at him as he walked past with Kingsley and Tonks, they opened the door and walked in; Fudge quickly walked after them. They walked down the corridor and stopped in front of another door, Kingsley stopped in front of it while Tonks stood next to Dumbledore and they all looked to Fudge; who nodded.
Tonks carried on walking with Dumbledore and Fudge behind her, they went into another room. She stood by the door, while Dumbledore and Fudge sat down at the table; the room was empty beside the table and four chairs.
Kingsley unlocked the door and walked in, Sirius was sat on the bed in the corner; but he didn't look up. Kingsley walked over to him and pulled him to his feet.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?" Kingsley demanded in a whisper. "I really don't believe that you would do something as stupid as this; come on with ya."
Kingsley pushed him along; Sirius was still in shock about what he had just found out; all these years and they had kept it from him. The door opened by magic and Kingsley directed Sirius in and sat him down facing Dumbledore and Fudge.
"Sirius Black, do you know where you are?" Fudge asked him, but Sirius didn't answer he just looked blankly back at him. "You are at the Ministry of Magic, and I have agreed with Dumbledore to hear your side of the story or averts. Kingsley give him the potion."
"Right this potion will just make you tell the truth." Kingsley told him as he pulled it out of his inside cloak pocket, he gave it to Sirius who drank the whole thing and then gave the empty vial back.
"Right then, why don't we start with a few simple questions and then work ourselves up." Fudge suggested.
"I agree." Dumbledore said pleasantly.
"What's your name?" Fudge asked.
"Sirius Black." Sirius answered tonelessly.
"Were you the Potter's secret keeper?" Fudge asked.
"No." Sirius answered, but Fudge wasn't convinced.
"Then who was?" Fudge asked.
"Peter Pettigrew, we changed at the last minute; thinking that no one would ever suspect him." Sirius answered.
"Really, are you sure this potion thing is working?" Fudge asked Dumbledore. "I've got it. How did you escape Azkaban?"
Dumbledore looked at Sirius while both Kingsley and Tonks looked nervously at Dumbledore.
"I spent most of the time in my Animagi form, when you gave me the news paper and I saw peter in it and alive; I knew what I had to do." Sirius answered. "I changed and squeezed through the bars, and swam for the shore."
"Really, then what animal can you change into and why aren't you registered?" Fudge asked.
"Maybe we should stay on topic." Dumbledore suggested.
"This is on topic, we need to know everything Dumbledore; and that includes who he managed to escape." Fudge told him.
"I can change into a large black dog; I have been able to do so since fifth year at Hogwarts." Sirius answered. "When we found out that Remus Lupin was a werewolf we wanted to do something to make it easier on him when he transformed; werewolves don't attack animals so we learnt how to become Animagi."
"Well this is some story, who is we?" Fudge asked mildly interested. "And what can they change into?"
"James Potter, he could change into a stag and Peter Pettigrew could change into a rat." Sirius answered.
"So you're saying that he spent all those years as a rat and what?" Fudge asked.
"Yes, because he was waiting and he was afraid." Sirius answered.
"Afraid of what?" Fudge asked.
"He had just sold out and Voldermot lost his powers, he was afraid of the other Deatheaters, being court and if Voldermot came back he would balm him for what happened." Sirius answered.
"This all sounds far fetch." Fudge said looking over at Dumbledore.
"Then ask him to change for you." Dumbledore suggested. "If he can, then he has proven himself."
"I'm not to sure, what if..." Fudge said looking at Sirius and then back at Dumbledore. "Does this potion always work?"
"Yes, and I believe that you already know that of course." Dumbledore answered.
"If he can, then what do you want?" Fudge asked, though he didn't really want to know the answer.
"W want all charges to be lifted, a full paraded and for the Ministry to help in the war against Voldermot." Dumbledore said calmly. "And I'm sure that Mr Black will register his Animagi form, and will have a few things to add to the list himself."
"Fine." Fudge said turning back to Sirius. "I want you to change into your Animagi form."
Sirius pushed his chair back and stood up, he stepped out form behind the table so that he could be seen; and then with a pop he changed from a man into a large black dog before their eyes.
"I don't believe it." Fudge said staring at him.
"I'm sure that you can have everything seen to today Minister." Dumbledore said pleasantly. "You can change back now Sirius, oh and Kingsley if you don't mind to give him the antidote."
"No wait, why was he out in the street in the place?" Fudge asked Dumbledore.
"I'm sure that he can tell us that himself." Dumbledore said, but before Fudge could protest Kingsley had already given him the antidote.
Sirius seemed to come out of his trance, from the potion and from before; he walked round to Fudge who stepped away from him.
"So?" Sirius said.
"Well erm...yes...I'm...we're sorry...and I'll get onto that straight away." Fudge said quickly walking around him. "But of course you can't leave until we have; people still believe well...erm you know."
"That I'm a guilty murder." Sirius finished for him. "Well then you better sort that out then haven't you?"
Fudge quickly left the room leaving Sirius with Dumbledore, Kingsley and Tonks. Tonks ran forward and hugged him almost tripping over the hem of her cloak falling into his arms.
"This is great, you're free." Tonks said hugging him tightly.
"Yeah, it's kind of hard to believe though after all these years." Sirius said, he smiled at her as he pulled her away and turned to Dumbledore. "Can I have a word in pirate?"
"Of course." Dumbledore answered.
"Well done mate, I'll send an owl and tell them back at the house." Kingsley told him.
"No, I'll tell them when I get in." Sirius said.
"Are you sure, they're going to be worries sick; especially young Harry." Kingsley said.
"I'm sure." Sirius told him.
Kingsley turned to Dumbledore who nodded in agreement; Tonks hugged Sirius again before Kingsley directed her out of the room leaving Sirius and Dumbledore alone. Sirius turned back round to Dumbledore.
"Fudge did have a point, what was you doing out of the house after I told you to stay?" Dumbledore asked.
Sirius just looked at him for a moment. "Yeah that's right, if I would have stayed in the house; I would still be on the run and still in the dark."
"They could have handed you over to the Dementor's without even a question." Dumbledore told him.
"You laired to me all these years, I can't believe that you kept it from me after everything what had happened." Sirius said.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Dumbledore said, but of course Sirius didn't believe him.
"Of course you do, Hunter...the boy who they went out to find this morning." Sirius told him. "I found him, we had quite a talk. She's alive and you kept that from me, why? And, and she has a son...I have a son."
"Sirius, I am sorry that you had to find out the way you did." Dumbledore told him.
"You mean that you're sorry that I found out at all." Sirius shot at him. "I loved her, and you let believe for all these years that she was dead.
"I know how much you cared you, I am sorry; but that is why we thought that it best that you didn't know." Dumbledore told him. "If Voldermot would have found out about her and Owen, he would have used her against you."
"He already did, that's why I thought she was dead." Sirius shot at him. "Even Snape thinks she's dead, he doesn't have a clue...this is one thing that I know we'll agree on that you shouldn't have kept this a secret. I want to know where she is, now."
"I'm afraid that I can't tell you, and you can't tell anyone." Dumbledore told him. "Sirius you have just become a free man..."
"Yes, so I want my life back...she's part of that, don't you understand?" Sirius said, but he didn't wait for an answer before he walked out leaving Dumbledore stood there.
Sirius walked down the corridor with people staring at him half in shock and half in surprise that he was walking down a corridor in the Ministry of Magic; he walked straight into the Auror's department and down to Kingsley desk at the end. The walls of his both were full of pictures of him, which he tried to ignore as Kingsley looked up at him.
"I need you to find me someone." Sirius told him as he sat down on the chair next to the desk.
"Ok who?" Kingsley asked.
"An old friend from school, she's called Jocelyn Hunter...her son goes to Hogwarts he's in Ginny's year and I think Gryffindor." Sirius told him.
Kingsley looked at him for a moment, and then nodded.
"When you get the information, can you just give it straight over to me and no one else?" Sirius told him.
"Course mate." Kingsley said. "Are we going to the pub to celebrate tonight?"
"I didn't really think about it, but yeah why not." Sirius agreed smiling.
(A/N:- Right there's another chapter hoped you liked it, sorry didn't update sooner but I was busy yesterday. Thanks for all the reviews, you're all great for keep reading and hope to hear from you all soon.)