Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but if I did there would be a lot more sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, rape, etc, etc, so it's probably a good thing I DON'T own Harry Potter because I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be fun for the whole family. Hmmm . . .
Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to update guys. I can only type on my mother's weekends because my dad and stepmom might read my stuff which, as you can note, is NOT a good thing. At the moment I am working on Chapter Ten, but updating with three.
There is a made up statistic in this chapter that concerns foster parents. I mean absolutely no offense by this statement. It is made up and used simply as persuasion. If I offend anyone, I am very sorry. It was not my intention. God, I sound like Janet Jackson.
Remember that when people think it's in italics. When Serenity 'speaks' it's written like this 'I speak'. LOL. Don't be confused. I know it's hard.
CHAPTER THREE: TESTIMONY
"Miss Black," Minerva began softly, "how long has this been going on?"
Serenity held up three fingers as she continued to gaze at Sirius, tears in her amethyst eyes.
"Three years?" Dumbledore asked softly.
Serenity nodded as silent tears began to fall down her cheeks. 'Talk to me.' she mouthed at Sirius' sobbing figure..
"Serenity, is that when you stopped talking?" the headmaster asked in the same quiet voice.
"Yes." That came from Sirius, who sat up and wipe furiously at his face with the sleeve of his robes. "Serenity stopped talking when that bastard told her if she screamed he'd fuck me." His face was hardened in anger. "But I found out and after he was done he said he'd kill Serenity if I told. He know I had no problem talking." Sirius spat out bitterly. "Bastard."
"Does anyone in your house know? Your mother perhaps?" Minerva asked gently.
"Mum?" Sirius asked incredulously as Serenity sat down and started clucking her tongue. "Yeah, Mum knows. She doesn't care, either. Because it us, you know. Not Sabriel or Godiva or Athena or precious Regulus."
"Does anyone else know?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"Everyone else in that bloody family. It's like it's some big secret., more like a standing joke." Sirius muttered.
"What about the incident earlier today?" the headmaster inquired.
Sirius looked expectantly at Serenity who seemed to be debating whether or not to tell him. Then she mad a few timid motions.
"I don't care what the hell Bella said." Sirius said coldly. Serenity made some more emotions. "I don't care what anyone said."
Serenity sighed as if she had no choice and began to tell the story through motions that held no meaning for Dumbledore or McGonagall, but seemed to make perfect sense to Sirius. He clenched his teeth and balled his hands into fists.
"What did she say, Sirius?" Minerva asked softly, once Serenity had stopped making motions.
"She's lying." Sirius said angrily. "She keeps saying she was dueling with Bellatrix, which isn't true." Serenity glared at him and Sirius turned to her. "And you can stop looking at me like that, Miss Thing. It's not my fault you're so stubborn."
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When Sirius and Serenity entered the common room around midnight, Remus and James were waiting by the fire. "What happened?" James asked.
"Talked to Dumbledore and McGonagall." Sirius said dully.
Serenity crossed the room to go sit by Remus, who looked worried. "No, but what happened?" he asked. "You know, the incident today?"
"Serenity still hasn't told me." Sirius said, casting a dirty look at his sister.
"So, you're telling us," James began, "that you talked to McGonagall and Dumbledore for, oh, three and half hours and all you talked about was not knowing what happened earlier?"
"That's not all we talked about." Sirius snapped. "We talked about . . . other stuff." He sat down tiredly in the chair opposite James.
"What 'other stuff'?" James asked suspiciously.
"Bella." Sirius lied promptly.
"Yeah, right." James said. "Even you can't gripe about your cousin for three hours. Try the truth."
"We talked about Bella." Sirius repeated.
"I don't see how you can stay mad at Serenity for lying," Remus said quietly, "when you're guilty of the same crime."
He expected Sirius to flare up. What he did not expect was for Sirius to turn away and stare at the fire, biting his bottom lip. "You wouldn't understand." he whispered.
James and Remus exchanged look. "Sirius?" James asked softly. "Is it something really bad?"
"Yeah." the boy answered softly.
"Does it have to do with Serenity and you?"
"Uh-huh."
"But you told Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall?" Remus asked.
Sirius nodded.
"Then you don't have to tell us." James said finally. "You can trust us though, Sirius. And you, too, Serenity. We'll be ready whenever you are."
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Sirius and Serenity were on tenterhooks all weekend, worrying about what was going to happen. And even though he longed to jinx Bellatrix to Hades and back, he avoided her for his sister's sake.
Andromeda came up to her cousins, James and Remus when they were all outside Saturday afternoon. "Sirius, could I have a word with you?" the Ravenclaw first year asked. "Alone?"
"Yeah, sure." Sirius said standing up and following her about twenty feet away from his friends. "What's up?"
"I've just come from Professor Dumbledore's office," she said quietly, "where Professor McGonagall practically interrogated me." Sirius made no movement. "She asked me all sorts of question about you and Serenity and the kids." She lowered her voice and Sirius could tell she was fighting tears. "She asked if I'd ever seen your dad touch any of you." She looked up at him. "What happened?"
Sirius hesitated. Normally he wouldn't have had any problem lying, but Andromeda was one of the only other sane members of his family. He decided to pull a halfway lie. After all, his cousin was eleven. She didn't need details.
"I told her about Dad hitting us."
Andromeda's eyes filled with tears. "He hits you? Oh, Sirius. That's terrible."
Sirius hugged her gently. "Calm down, Andromeda. It's fine. It was nothing major and McGonagall knows now, so it's going to be okay." He held her at arm's length and smiled softly. "Okay?"
Andromeda nodded and wiped at her eyes. "Okay." she whispered.
When Sirius and his cousin parted a few minutes later and Sirius began walking toward the other three, Sirius and Remus shut up immediately, leaving no doubt that they had been talking about him only minutes before.
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"They don't know what to do other than foster care." Sirius whispered to serenity before James and Remus sat down.
"What about foster care?" James asked, sitting down beside his best friend.
Sirius jerked his head up to look at him, eyes wide. "You weren't supposed to hear that."
"Oops." James said in a voice that was mock apologetic. "Now what about foster care?"
Sirius looked from James to Remus, who was frowning slightly, to Serenity, who was still visibly upset by what her brother had just told her.
Sirius sighed and prepared to tell his two best friends the lie he had told Andromeda. "My dad hits me and Serenity."
James and Remus exchanged the briefest of glances, as if they knew there was more to the story. "I'm sorry." James said softly. Remus had put his arm around Serenity who had silently started to cry. He was whispering quietly to her.
"It's nothing." Sirius said, waving off James' apology.
"Yeah, it is." James said soberly. "Your dad hitting you is pretty dam serious." Sirius stared at the desk. "And McGonagall suggested foster care? That's pretty thick."
Sirius opened his mouth. "Do you expect us to go back there?" he snapped.
"'Course not." James said. "I expect you to go tell McGonagall you and Serenity are coming to stay with me."
Serenity stopped crying and looked at James. Remus was looking at him as well. "What?" Sirius asked, as if he had heard wrong.
"Oh, come off it." James said. "I'll send an owl to my parents tonight and ask, they'll write back tomorrow and say 'yes'." He looked at Sirius who was blinking. He seemed to think James was a dream and he would wake up in a few minutes. "Honestly." James said, shaking his head. "Look, I have the room at my house. My parents are great, they won't care. Do you seriously think I'd let you go to foster care?" He beckoned Sirius closer to him so Serenity wouldn't hear. "80 of foster dads are pedophiles." he whispered.
Sirius sat back. James almost felt guilty about the expression on his best friend's face, but convinced himself the made up statistic was intended with only the best of intentions.
"You really wouldn't mind if we . . ." Sirius gestured at himself and Serenity.
"Nope. Probably be fun actually. It's just me, Mum, and Dad, you know."
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James received an owl from his mother the next day. After reading it, he smiled triumphantly at Sirius. "What did I tell you?" He handed him the letter. Remus and Serenity leaned it to read it with him.
James,
Of course Sirius and Serenity can stay here. You know your father and I would be happy to have them. You tell those two they have nothing to worry about. Send men an owl to let me know what your plans are for the holidays. You lot can stay there or come home. (Remus can come as well, if he wishes. I've had words with his mother.)
I am sending another letter for Professor McGonagall. Don't you dare open it, James Henry Potter.
Love,
Mum
Sirius looked up in time to see James opening another letter. "Damn." he muttered. He showed the other three.
I told you not to open this letter, James. Now reseal it and give it to Professor McGonagall.
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"You wanted to see us, Professor?" Sirius asked as he and Serenity entered McGonagall's office.
"Yes. Sit down." McGonagall said. When the pair did, she continued talking. "I'm sure Mr. Potter has shared his offer of living arrangements with you."
"Yes." Sirius said.
"Did he tell you his mother's answer?"
Sirius and Serenity nodded in unison.
McGonagall sighed, her usually stern face softening a bit. She looked older. I'm afraid to say it's not quiet that easy. I'm certain you'll be able to stay with the Potters after a testimony."
"What do you mean by a testimony?" Sirius asked sharply.
"Your father is denying that he ever touched either you or Serenity. You would have to testify in front of a select group of the Wizengamot, that's the wizards' court. Serenity, you would have to write a testimony with a Truth Quill."
Sirius jaw trembled for a second until he seemed to get himself under control. "Would our dad be there?"
"No. You would not even be questioned in the courtroom. This would all take place in Professor Dumbledore's office. The few witches and wizards questioning you will be able to use your testimony in a Pensieve for the other members of the court. Professor Dumbledore and I would be present." McGonagall said all this briskly, but in a softer tone that she typically used.
"I'd have to tell them everything?" Sirius asked softly.
"Yes. I wish there were another way, but there isn't."
Sirius looked at McGonagall, face set. "All right. I'll do it. Serenity?"
The raven-haired twelve-year-old nodded slowly.
Two witches and a wizard were seated beside Dumbledore's desk. Minerva McGonagall was seated on the other side. Sirius was sitting in front of the headmaster's desk, while his sister scribbled furiously on a piece of parchment at a small table Dumbledore had conjured in the corner of the room. The headmaster was, of course, seated at his desk.
The first witch was in her early fifties. Her dark brown hair was streaked with gray and she wore thick glasses. This was Amelia Bones. The second witch was in her late thirties. She had brown hair as well, though without a touch of gray. She had a very pretty smile which she was not wearing at the moment. Her daughter, Rachel, was a third year at Hogwarts. This was Angela Lovegood. The wizard was in his early forties. He had a forbidding look on his face, along with a perfectly groomed mustache. This was Bartemius Crouch.
Amelia Bones asked the first round of questions. "Please state your full name."
"Sirius Orion Black." Serenity's brother's voice was flat, void of any emotion.
"And you are a second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, correct?"
"Yes."
"What house are you in?"
"Gryffindor."
Serenity was looking at Professor McGonagall with a look of confusion on her face. She had a smudge of ink on her left cheek. "Standard questions." McGonagall said in an undertone. Serenity went back to her affidavit.
Angel was doing the question now, struggling to keep emotion from her voice. What she really wanted to do was grab the two children in the office, hug them, and tell them everything would be okay.
"You stated to Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall three days ago, on the thirteenth of October, that your father was abusing you, correct?" she asked, as if the question were indifferent.
"Yes." Sirius said dully.
"And you also stated these crimes were sexual in nature, correct?"
Sirius looked at the floor. "Yes."
The wizard cut across Angela's gently question with a brusque voice. "Is what you said true?"
Sirius looked up angry. "No, I made it all up." he said sarcastically. "Of course it's true."
Serenity turned in her seat and started clucking her tongue furiously. The three interrogators turned to look at her, as did Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore, however, spoke to Angel, Amelia, and Bartemius.
"As I informed you, Serenity Black is a selective mute. Therefore, she had to find other ways to express her emotions." Dumbledore turned to McGonagall. "I believe that when Miss Black clucks her tongue she is angry. Correct, Professor McGonagall?"
"Yes." the Transfiguration teacher replied. The she walked over to the girl in question and began talking softly to her.
Sirius looked at her for a moment, but tore his eyes away when the questioning began again. Amelia looked at Sirius, after casting a not-so-subtle glare at her male colleague. "Sirius, has your father raped you and Serenity?"
Sirius looked at the floor again. "Yes."
"How long has this been occurring?" she asked sadly, already knowing the answer.
"Since Serenity's ninth birthday." Sirius said honestly, looking up now. "He started on me three months after."
"Why did he start raping you later?" Angela asked before she could stop herself.
"I found about Dad raping Serenity. He told her if she said anything about it to anyone he would rape me. Serenity hadn't told, but Dad raped me anyway." Sirius discovered that once he had started talking it was easier.
"And why didn't you tell anyone about this before now?"
"Dad said he'd kill Serenity if I told."
The questioning continued quite well--as well as it could go, anyway--until Angel asked if Sirius had told any of his friends ("No.") and Crouch had cut across in a sharp voice, "Are you ashamed of it?" His tone seemed to suggest Sirius ought to be.
Sirius dropped his gaze to the floor again and Serenity once more began clucking her tongue. She stood up so quickly she knocked over her chair. She started shaking her finger at Crouch mouthing swear words and curses. Fortunately, none of the curses occurred, Serenity's wand being in her robes.
Sirius looked at her. "Serenity, it's okay. Sit down." he said quietly. "It's fine. Just finish writing, okay?"
Serenity looked at him, sighed, and picked up her chair.
After the three interrogators regained their composure, Angela asked another question. "Has your father ever abused in your family besides you and Serenity?"
"No." Sirius answered bitterly.
"Has your father ever physically abused you or Serenity?"
Sirius nodded. "Yeah.
The was a sharp intake of breath from Minerva and Serenity. Amelia looked at Sirius. "How long has the physical abuse been going on?"
"About ten years." Sirius said. "Give or take a couple months."
"And this abuse consists of . . ."
Sirius looked up, his voice stronger now. "Mostly slaps. He punches me, but not Serenity. He broke her wrist once, though."
"Does it happen a lot when you're home?"
"Yeah. A couple times a day." Sirius bit his bottom lip for a second. "More for me than Serenity. He fu- rapes her more, though."
I didn't hear you leave.
I wonder how am I still here.
-Dido, 'Here with Me'
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So, what did you all think of Chapter Three? I changed a bunch of it last minute. I was going to make Sirius testify under Veritaserum, but then I decided I wanted him to have emotions during it. The next chapter is going to be more light-hearted. I felt really guilty about playing God and doing all these evil things to Sirius and Serenity, so I decided to take a quick break. Lots from Lily in the next chapter through. Don't worry, after Chapter Four it gets all angsty again.
Please R&R. I can't stop this story now, but I really want responses. I am willing to take advice, but I don't know if I'd be able to work it in. Remember, I'm working on Chapter Ten. Bad things happen, weird things happen, I found a way to get rid of writer's block, but more about that in Chapter Ten.
Here is a quick preview of CHAPTER FOUR: EVANS FOR HOLIDAY:
"Hey, Evans." James said to the redhead before Charms.
She turned to look at him, annoyed. "What?"
"You're staying at Hogwarts for the hols."
"I know that." Lily said.
"Yeah, well, so are we." James said smoothly.
"Point?"
"You need to work on your social skills, Evans." James teased. "You're acting like you don't like me."
The corners of Lily's mouth twitched, but she managed to keep herself from smiling. "Beg your pardon." Lily said sarcastically. "I would be much obliged if you could find it in your heart to get to the point."