The Minister, the Trial and the lock undone.
(Rori, cliffhangers are my life.( Leonslanna, true. Lets find out. Winterspirit: so do I. Everyone: title change next chapter.
Disclaimer: J.K.Rowling doesn't write fanfics. Do the math.
Hermione's shocked gaze met the equally shocked gazes of the others.
"Pettigrew!" said Ron. He looked at his old rat Scabbers, with complete, absolute loathing.
Then they headed straight off to Dumbledore. They weaved their way through people watching fireworks, around bushes, and plenty of teachers. At last, they found Professor Dumbledore, talking to Professor Lupin. Snuffles was by Lupin's side, watching the fireworks.
"Remus, I trust that no one has disapproved of Tonks, since I hear that she is very helpful."
Lupin smiled, "No Professor, no one has-
The four of them came up all of a sudden, faces flushed and excited. Hermione spoke excitedly. "Excuse me Professor Dumbledore, but we have something very important to tell you!"
"Then Miss Granger, please tell me quickly, it does not do to dawdle." Hermione nodded, and beckoned to Ginny. She stepped forward.
"Professor, we've caught Peter Pettigrew."
Snuffles, who had been listening in on the conversation, did a sound between a yelp and a bark, coughed, and then ran straight over to them, and sniffed the rat anxiously. Lupin looked at the rat strangely. Ginny felt sorry for both of them; to see an old school friend, a traitor and murderer in front of them in a familiar form, must be painful.
Dumbledore looked down at the rat, and the light in his blue eyes was replaced with a cold fury as well as recognition. He whirled. "Miss Granger, please call Professor McGonagall here now. Miss Weasley, I want you to go to the staff room and find Professor Snape." They nodded and each ran off quickly.
"As for you, Mr. Weasley, please go and quickly owl the Minister of Magic. Tell him that I request his presence here immediately."
"But, professor, my owl isn't that fast," said Ron, looking extremely high- strung.
"You can use Hedwig," offered Harry. At this Ron nodded, and he too ran off. As he was going, Hermione came up with Professor McGonagall. Both looked rather out of breath, and Professor McGonagall's cheeks were pink.
"Albus, what is this? Who is this rat?" asked McGonagall, somewhat confused.
"All in good time Minerva, all in good time. Come" he made an extensive gesture to all of them, "Cornelius Fudge will be here soon."
"The minister? What will he be doing here?" asked McGonagall, confused.
"All in good time, Minerva." The students were told to go to bed, after all, it was getting very late, and so they left without a grumble. The younger ones were almost asleep on their feet.
Halfway to Dumbledore's office, they were met by Professor Snape who looked confused but said nothing. Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny caught each other's eyes and suppressed the urge to laugh; Snape's hair still had a pinkish tinge, even though his robes and hairstyle were back to normal. They came to the gargoyle, where Dumbledore said "Cat Caramel", and the gargoyle stepped aside. Then the little party stood on the staircase and it ascended. Behind him, Harry could hear Hermione, Ron and Ginny exclaiming in surprise, they had never been in here, and if they did they didn't remember. There was a pounding in his ears, and a hope thudding in his heart: if Sirius was freed, he, Harry, could go and live with him. The black dog glanced up at him, almost reading his mind; it gave a small woof of hope.
Then they were at the top and in Dumbledore's office. He opened the door. Inside, the many portraits were talking, when they saw Dumbledore, they waved. They looked with curiosity at Hermione and Ginny, still in costume. On second thoughts, the two performed the masking spell. Just then Tonks came through the door panting. She was not in her costume anymore. She too looked excited; after all, her cousin might be freed!
Just then, they heard Cornelius Fudge come up the stairs, and into the room. He still wore his lime green bowler hat, and was grumpy at being woken up in late at night. "Dumbledore, what is the meaning of this ridiculous little questioning? It had better not be that cock and bull nonsense about You-Know-Who being back!!"
Dumbledore spoke quietly. "I assure you, Cornelius, that it is not that. However, I have to clear up the mystery of Sirius Black."
Fudge stared dumbstruck. Then he recovered. "Sirius Black! Where is he?"
Dumbledore nodded at Sirius, who turned to the man again with a small pop. Fudge stared at him. "Now what's the meaning of this, Dumbledore? He should be killed!"
"No," said Dumbledore, even more quietly, so that hardly anyone could hear him-they had to lean in to listen- "This man should be." He waved his wand at the unconscious rat still in Hermione's hand. At once, it formed again, as Peter Pettigrew.
Fudge gaped. "But he's dead! He killed him!" pointing at Sirius.
Sirius growled. "I wish I had!"
"Quiet Sirius," said Dumbledore. Then to Fudge, "We'll try to revive him and see who killed who, shall we?"
Fudge nodded, befuddled. "Ennervate," said Dumbledore. At the same time, Hermione and Ginny whispered that in their heads. Pettigrew revived, blinking. He squealed, and struggled. But Dumbledore stopped him, and forced three drops of Veritaserum in his mouth. He blinked, confused.
"Tell, us, Peter, why are you at Hogwarts?"
The short ratty man spoke. "I am here to do my master's bidding."
"Explain," asked Dumbledore.
"The Dark Lord, after I returned him to strength and gathered his followers, decided to attack Hogwarts. He learned its protection spells, secret entrances, and other things. He however wanted someone check something strange: In the last two days, a new set of protection spells, like none seen before, showed up. So I was sent to find ways past them. Strangely, I got through. I watched the people at the ball, and spotted Potter. I decided to see if he had any strange dreams that would have alerted Dumbledore. So I listened to his conversation. But then, the Granger and Weasley girls stunned me."
Fudge stared dumbstruck. Then he recovered. "How can he be alive?"
"Ask him," said Dumbledore simply.
So Fudge asked.
"That day, I shouted to the whole street that Sirius had betrayed Lily and James. Then I cut of my finger, blew up the street and escaped down the gutter as a rat."
"But," said Fudge, "there's no proof! He is just a lunatic!"
"Then," said Snape silkily-Fudge jumped horribly at his voice-"check for the Dark Mark. Lord Voldemort" again Fudge started "will grow impatient and the Dark Mark will burn."
They watched his arm, where the skull was red. Then . . .
"You see?" said Snape. "It burns black. He is real."
"Fine, we'll have a trial," said Fudge nervously.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In two days time, Sirius and Peter, accompanied by everyone else arrived at the Ministry of Magic, for the trial. People stared and pointed, and the goblins (no dementors now) had to ward off people who were yelling that Sirius was a murderer. But then they saw peter, and there was a hush. Lucius Malfoy was seen stalking off somewhere. They proceeded to the courtroom and then, the trial started.
It seemed to last for hours. At first, they said that Sirius was a murderer, but that point was floored quickly. Then, they said that he was an unregistered Animagus, but Dumbledore (defense of course) pointed out that so was Peter, and anyway, he knew about it, and hadn't found it dangerous. There was quite a bit of murmuring about this. Then they said that he had attempted murder, but then Dumbledore said that he had served time in Azkaban for that already. The worst point was when they said that he had broken out of Azkaban. Hermione clutched Ron's hand, Ginny bit her lip, and Harry crossed his fingers, but it was alright. Dumbledore pointed out that even if he did this, he was innocent. Then the jury had to decide.
In the meanwhile, Harry and Ginny exchanged nervous glances, Hermione worried, while Ron tried to comfort her. Lupin's arm was around Tonks' shoulders; her face was buried in his robes, she was scared and would not look. Sirius sat alternately stiffly, as well as restless.
Then the jury came out.
"We hereby declare Sirius Black," announced Fudge while the courtroom went silent as a tomb, "We hereby declare Sirius Black pardoned, and Harry Potter in his custody, starting at the end of the school year."
At once there was cheering, Harry ran to Sirius, and they hugged, Tonks ran to her cousin, crying happily, Remus clapped his hand, and in general, everyone was happy.
But the best part was when Sirius was actually able to walk out the Ministry, head high and proud, and most of all
Free.
~*!~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Freedom at last!! Well people, you know the drill.
.
(Rori, cliffhangers are my life.( Leonslanna, true. Lets find out. Winterspirit: so do I. Everyone: title change next chapter.
Disclaimer: J.K.Rowling doesn't write fanfics. Do the math.
Hermione's shocked gaze met the equally shocked gazes of the others.
"Pettigrew!" said Ron. He looked at his old rat Scabbers, with complete, absolute loathing.
Then they headed straight off to Dumbledore. They weaved their way through people watching fireworks, around bushes, and plenty of teachers. At last, they found Professor Dumbledore, talking to Professor Lupin. Snuffles was by Lupin's side, watching the fireworks.
"Remus, I trust that no one has disapproved of Tonks, since I hear that she is very helpful."
Lupin smiled, "No Professor, no one has-
The four of them came up all of a sudden, faces flushed and excited. Hermione spoke excitedly. "Excuse me Professor Dumbledore, but we have something very important to tell you!"
"Then Miss Granger, please tell me quickly, it does not do to dawdle." Hermione nodded, and beckoned to Ginny. She stepped forward.
"Professor, we've caught Peter Pettigrew."
Snuffles, who had been listening in on the conversation, did a sound between a yelp and a bark, coughed, and then ran straight over to them, and sniffed the rat anxiously. Lupin looked at the rat strangely. Ginny felt sorry for both of them; to see an old school friend, a traitor and murderer in front of them in a familiar form, must be painful.
Dumbledore looked down at the rat, and the light in his blue eyes was replaced with a cold fury as well as recognition. He whirled. "Miss Granger, please call Professor McGonagall here now. Miss Weasley, I want you to go to the staff room and find Professor Snape." They nodded and each ran off quickly.
"As for you, Mr. Weasley, please go and quickly owl the Minister of Magic. Tell him that I request his presence here immediately."
"But, professor, my owl isn't that fast," said Ron, looking extremely high- strung.
"You can use Hedwig," offered Harry. At this Ron nodded, and he too ran off. As he was going, Hermione came up with Professor McGonagall. Both looked rather out of breath, and Professor McGonagall's cheeks were pink.
"Albus, what is this? Who is this rat?" asked McGonagall, somewhat confused.
"All in good time Minerva, all in good time. Come" he made an extensive gesture to all of them, "Cornelius Fudge will be here soon."
"The minister? What will he be doing here?" asked McGonagall, confused.
"All in good time, Minerva." The students were told to go to bed, after all, it was getting very late, and so they left without a grumble. The younger ones were almost asleep on their feet.
Halfway to Dumbledore's office, they were met by Professor Snape who looked confused but said nothing. Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny caught each other's eyes and suppressed the urge to laugh; Snape's hair still had a pinkish tinge, even though his robes and hairstyle were back to normal. They came to the gargoyle, where Dumbledore said "Cat Caramel", and the gargoyle stepped aside. Then the little party stood on the staircase and it ascended. Behind him, Harry could hear Hermione, Ron and Ginny exclaiming in surprise, they had never been in here, and if they did they didn't remember. There was a pounding in his ears, and a hope thudding in his heart: if Sirius was freed, he, Harry, could go and live with him. The black dog glanced up at him, almost reading his mind; it gave a small woof of hope.
Then they were at the top and in Dumbledore's office. He opened the door. Inside, the many portraits were talking, when they saw Dumbledore, they waved. They looked with curiosity at Hermione and Ginny, still in costume. On second thoughts, the two performed the masking spell. Just then Tonks came through the door panting. She was not in her costume anymore. She too looked excited; after all, her cousin might be freed!
Just then, they heard Cornelius Fudge come up the stairs, and into the room. He still wore his lime green bowler hat, and was grumpy at being woken up in late at night. "Dumbledore, what is the meaning of this ridiculous little questioning? It had better not be that cock and bull nonsense about You-Know-Who being back!!"
Dumbledore spoke quietly. "I assure you, Cornelius, that it is not that. However, I have to clear up the mystery of Sirius Black."
Fudge stared dumbstruck. Then he recovered. "Sirius Black! Where is he?"
Dumbledore nodded at Sirius, who turned to the man again with a small pop. Fudge stared at him. "Now what's the meaning of this, Dumbledore? He should be killed!"
"No," said Dumbledore, even more quietly, so that hardly anyone could hear him-they had to lean in to listen- "This man should be." He waved his wand at the unconscious rat still in Hermione's hand. At once, it formed again, as Peter Pettigrew.
Fudge gaped. "But he's dead! He killed him!" pointing at Sirius.
Sirius growled. "I wish I had!"
"Quiet Sirius," said Dumbledore. Then to Fudge, "We'll try to revive him and see who killed who, shall we?"
Fudge nodded, befuddled. "Ennervate," said Dumbledore. At the same time, Hermione and Ginny whispered that in their heads. Pettigrew revived, blinking. He squealed, and struggled. But Dumbledore stopped him, and forced three drops of Veritaserum in his mouth. He blinked, confused.
"Tell, us, Peter, why are you at Hogwarts?"
The short ratty man spoke. "I am here to do my master's bidding."
"Explain," asked Dumbledore.
"The Dark Lord, after I returned him to strength and gathered his followers, decided to attack Hogwarts. He learned its protection spells, secret entrances, and other things. He however wanted someone check something strange: In the last two days, a new set of protection spells, like none seen before, showed up. So I was sent to find ways past them. Strangely, I got through. I watched the people at the ball, and spotted Potter. I decided to see if he had any strange dreams that would have alerted Dumbledore. So I listened to his conversation. But then, the Granger and Weasley girls stunned me."
Fudge stared dumbstruck. Then he recovered. "How can he be alive?"
"Ask him," said Dumbledore simply.
So Fudge asked.
"That day, I shouted to the whole street that Sirius had betrayed Lily and James. Then I cut of my finger, blew up the street and escaped down the gutter as a rat."
"But," said Fudge, "there's no proof! He is just a lunatic!"
"Then," said Snape silkily-Fudge jumped horribly at his voice-"check for the Dark Mark. Lord Voldemort" again Fudge started "will grow impatient and the Dark Mark will burn."
They watched his arm, where the skull was red. Then . . .
"You see?" said Snape. "It burns black. He is real."
"Fine, we'll have a trial," said Fudge nervously.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In two days time, Sirius and Peter, accompanied by everyone else arrived at the Ministry of Magic, for the trial. People stared and pointed, and the goblins (no dementors now) had to ward off people who were yelling that Sirius was a murderer. But then they saw peter, and there was a hush. Lucius Malfoy was seen stalking off somewhere. They proceeded to the courtroom and then, the trial started.
It seemed to last for hours. At first, they said that Sirius was a murderer, but that point was floored quickly. Then, they said that he was an unregistered Animagus, but Dumbledore (defense of course) pointed out that so was Peter, and anyway, he knew about it, and hadn't found it dangerous. There was quite a bit of murmuring about this. Then they said that he had attempted murder, but then Dumbledore said that he had served time in Azkaban for that already. The worst point was when they said that he had broken out of Azkaban. Hermione clutched Ron's hand, Ginny bit her lip, and Harry crossed his fingers, but it was alright. Dumbledore pointed out that even if he did this, he was innocent. Then the jury had to decide.
In the meanwhile, Harry and Ginny exchanged nervous glances, Hermione worried, while Ron tried to comfort her. Lupin's arm was around Tonks' shoulders; her face was buried in his robes, she was scared and would not look. Sirius sat alternately stiffly, as well as restless.
Then the jury came out.
"We hereby declare Sirius Black," announced Fudge while the courtroom went silent as a tomb, "We hereby declare Sirius Black pardoned, and Harry Potter in his custody, starting at the end of the school year."
At once there was cheering, Harry ran to Sirius, and they hugged, Tonks ran to her cousin, crying happily, Remus clapped his hand, and in general, everyone was happy.
But the best part was when Sirius was actually able to walk out the Ministry, head high and proud, and most of all
Free.
~*!~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Freedom at last!! Well people, you know the drill.
.