Disclaimer: Um...not mine.
A/N: Just one of the zillion different fic ideas that jump into my head. Please read and review!
Black and White
Chapter One
The Conviction
Another day. Another twenty-four hours for Harry Potter to morn the death of his godfather. Another one thousand, four hundred and forty minutes to be depressed. Another eighty-six thousand and four hundred seconds to wish he were anywhere but at his aunt and uncle's house.
He lay on his bed thinking, something he did often these days, but usually about the same subject.
The Daily Prophet was tossed all over his floor. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that the second war had begun. Everyday brought more killings of muggles and wizards alike. There were so many that the Ministry couldn't provide trials for them all. People who were the least bit suspected of Dark Activity were executed. It was Cornelius Fudge's thinking that it was better to kill an innocent man then to leave a murderer still walking among them.
People were frightened. It was clear. And they had reason to be. If they weren't murdered by the enemy, they were killed by their allies.
The muggles were just as afraid, if not more. They had no idea what was happening; just that there population was being clipped down by a nameless fear.
The doorbell called out from downstairs, but Harry dismissed it. It was probably just some sales person for his uncle.
However a loud, "BOY! Get down here!" told him otherwise.
He skipped down the stairs praying for it to be some one from the Order. What he wasn't expecting was to see Cornelius Fudge standing at the door with two Ministry wizards behind him.
"Harry Potter."
"Yes."
The Minister cleared his throat, "We have just received evidence that the convict Sirius O. Black was not guilty, and all charges have been dropped."
"Well, that's great, sit, but why come to me?"
"Because we've also received evidence that because of you, he was killed back in June. Now, when we believed him to be a criminal, we were just going to overlook that, but now...we have no choice."
Harry paled as he realized what the Minister's implications were, "What do you mean, sir?"
"Harry Potter, you are hereby charged with the murder of Sirius Black and breaking and entering into the Ministry of Magic."
"But, sir, I broke into the Ministry of Magic because I was trying to save Sirius. You can't think that I would wanted to harm him!"
"I'm sorry, Potter," though he didn't look the least bit, "You have been given a lifetime sentence in Azkaban prison."
"Without a trial, you're just going to condemn a sixteen-year-old boy to a life sentence?!?!"
"It was originally the death penalty, but Dumbledore persuaded quite a few of us that that was too severe. You are to come with us." He told him, coldly.
"What about my things?"
"You won't be needing them," Harry could have sworn he saw a grin on the three of their faces. They were thoroughly enjoying this. Harry could just imagine how happy they were that they could get back at Harry.
Fudge took out a port key and all four grabbed on to the stick of gum. Harry almost instantly felt the familiar pull behind his navel as the world spun around him.
They arrived inside the Ministry of Magic, the place where Harry's fate would be determined...if it wasn't already...
To Be Continuted...