Disclaimer: Everything thing you recognize belongs to J.K Rowling. I'm just borrowing them and I fully intend to give everything back, as she needs it for the 6th book.
Spoilers: If any of this happens in the next book then all those Divination lessons with Trelawney have paid off. ;)
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The next morning, Harry woke up late, wondering why he was so depressed and apprehensive. Then he remembered. Sirius's hearing was later today. He had to be in Diagon Alley by noon. I can hardly wait, Harry thought sarcastically. He slowly got out of bed and stumbled down the hall to the bathroom to shower.
Half an hour later, he was eating downstairs with Remus and the Dursleys. They ate in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally Lupin spoke.
"Harry I got your letter last night."
Harry looked up.
"I think it is a good idea, because we won't be disturbed that way."
"Yeah," Harry agreed.
More silence. Harry pulled out Sirius's letter and started to read it over again.
"Do you want to go and get a butterbeer?" asked Remus.
"What?"
"At the Leaky Cauldron."
"What time is it?"
"Half past 11"
"Sure I guess. We've got to go to Diagon Alley in half an hour anyway right?"
Lupin sighed and nodded. Harry put the letter in his pocket looking at the seal, a paw print, one last time. They both got up and started to walk out the door.
"Where do you think you're going boy!" Came Uncle Vernon's cry from the kitchen. "You still need to do the dishes."
"I'm leaving," cried Harry whipping out his wand, fire burning in his eyes. "If you can't see that I'd be happy to fix it for you."
Uncle Vernon's face turned red, but he didn't reply. Harry turned and followed Remus out the door.
"I don't know if I can go in there today," said Harry, on the way to Mrs. Figg's house.
"I know, but we have to," replied Lupin. "Today will be the last time we will get to see him, and he would hate it if we were not there for him. Remember what he said in his letter, about us not crying for him. I think we should honor that."
"I guess. It's just so hard." They both walked until they got to Mrs. Figg's front door.
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They knocked, and Mrs. Figg came to the door, and looked at the two men standing in front of her with pity and sadness. She let them in without a word.
"Can we borrow some floo powder?" asked Harry sullenly.
"Of course boys," replied Mrs. Figg. She walked to the fireplace, and took down a jar. When she turned around she heard Harry shout.
"I hate Bellatrix Lestrange! All of this is her fault! And Peter too. If it wasn't for them none of this would have happened. I would have gotten to meet my parents, and Sirius would still be here."
"I know, but we can't change that now," said Remus softly.
"Here is the powder," said Mrs. Figg. They each looked at her for a moment, and then each took a handful. Remus was the first to walk up to the fire.
"Diagon Alley!" he said as he threw the floo powder into the fire and stepped in. The fire turned bright green for a moment, and then died back down. It was Harry's turn.
Harry threw his handful of floo powder into the fire, and watched as it turned bright green. Before he stepped into the fire, he turned to Mrs. Figg.
"Thanks." Then Harry stepped into the fire shouting "Diagon Alley!"
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Harry appeared inside of the Leaky Cauldron beside Remus.
They ordered two butterbeers, and sat down to drink. Both were lost in their own thoughts for fifteen minutes or so when a voice interrupted the silence.
"Would you like a refill?" asked a waitress. Harry looked up. Something was weird.
Since when do they have a waitress at the leaky cauldron? Harry wondered. Usually it was only Tom, the old bartender. Harry looked more closely at her. She had black hair in braided pigtails, but she looked somewhat familiar. Remus was also looking at her strangely. Harry thought for a moment.
"Tonks?" He asked slowly.
The waitress pouted. "How did you recognize me?"
"There are no waitresses that work here, and you had your hair like that last summer, when you were showing off for Hermione and Ginny."
"Oh," said Tonks slowly, a grin spreading across her face. "So you were staring at us girls? Which of them was it Harry, Hermione or Ginny?"
"Oh gods Tonks,"
"Why are you here?" asked Remus.
"I'm on duty, and am supposed to escort you to the hearing which started five minutes ago."
"WHAT!!!" yelled Harry and Remus together. The whole pub turned around to look at them.
"Let's go." Said Tonks.
The three of them ran across Diagon Alley, and it wasn't until they had reached a small building next to Gringotts, when Harry realized they had picked up more guards along the way. Kinsley, Mundungus, Moody, and to Harry's surprise, Fred and George Weasley were surrounding them.
"Damn, Harry," said Fred who was panting. "You sure know how to sprint."
"Yeah," George agreed. "You are awfully hard to follow."
"What are you two doing following me?"
"We were inducted into the Order after we left Hogwarts."
"Oh," was Harry's reply as they all walked into the small building. Kingsley and Tonks led them down a hallway, while Fred and George walked in front of Remus and Harry, and Moody and Dung walked behind them. Tonks led the way to a door at the end of the hallway. She threw the door open with a bang and walked in.
Harry noticed two things. First was that there were about 50 chairs in the room, with a huge table at the front. There were about 25 chairs on each side of the room, and an aisle down the center going towards the desk. The second thing he noticed was that these chairs were all filled with members of the Order, the Weasleys and Hermione. All of there people were looking at them because Tonks had made such an entrance. As she continued to lead them down the aisle, Harry looked determinedly at the desk in front. He noticed Remus did the same, to avoid the pity in everyone's eyes. All of their guards sat down, and Harry and Remus took the front two seats, directly across from Dumbledore.
Harry took his glance away from the front table for a moment to see that his guards surrounded him and Remus. Everyone was still staring at him, and he saw Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, and Ginny look ready to cry when they saw him. He shifted his gaze back to the desk, and someone spoke.
"Well now that everyone is here, we may begin."
Harry saw a tall man there that he had never seen before. He had short black hair and a bald spot in the middle of his head. He was peering at Harry through his thick, dark eyebrows. He was holding what looked like a pensive, but instead of being filled with silver liquid, it was filled with a dull blueish gray liquid. Harry studied it for moment, when the man started to speak again, drawing everyone's attention away from Harry and Remus.
"As I am sure you all know, we are all gathered today to witness the hearing of Sirius Black. If you are not here for this purpose then I must ask you to leave." The man paused for a moment as if expecting them all to walk out. When nobody did he continued. "My name is Rami Grazide. Now I don't want any of you to worry about what is said during this hearing. I have been asked for especially by Albus Dumbledore, as I am also a member of the Order." There was a whisper that seemed to go around the room at this. Grazide took no notice, and continued once again.
"You will hear the last will of the deceased, Sirius Black. In the event that a person is unable to receive something left to them, or they have passed on, Sirius has decided that it shall be donated to the Order of the Phoenix to use at their discretion. Now for the reading of his will, I present to you Mr. Black."
He tapped the liquid inside the strange pensive on his desk, and Sirius floated out of it. He looked sort of like a ghost, but he was missing something. Harry thought he looked like his parents had when they had emerged from the tip of Voldemort's wand at the end of his fourth year. All of his thoughts had gone back to Sirius when he began to speak.
"Hello everyone," the ghost Sirius said. "You all know why you are here, so I don't want to go into it too much, and make the day depressing for you all. I only ask that you do not cry for me too much, as that would make me feel guilty. I want you all to get on with your lives, especially Moony and Prongs junior over here." He now directed his attention to Harry and Remus.
"By the way, I was wondering what you two were doing that made you ten minutes late. A prank maybe? Probably some drinks at the Leaky cauldron am I right?"
Harry and Remus smiled slightly and nodded. Harry heard Mrs. Weasley gasp. Sirius apparently heard also.
"Don't worry Molly," he said. "If I know Moony, it was only butterbeer. Then you two had to come in late to get everyone's attention. That's just like James. He always had to make his grand entrance. Which reminds me; I met up with James and Lily, after I left the Department of Mysteries, and they want me to tell you both 'hi', and Lily wants you to know, Harry, that she and James will be watching over you through the final battle and I wanted to tell you that I will be too.
"And on a happier note, remember the prank I mentioned in my letter? I am assuming that since Remus is alive, that you have received it?" Harry nodded. "Well, to make today a bit more memorable the prank I told you about will start when you hear a thunder crash" Sirius grinned. Harry and Remus both smiled slightly, and shook their heads in disbelief. "The prank was part Lily's idea, but Prongs and I pulled it off. We think it will be the greatest prank in marauder history. It's brilliant!"
Everyone in the room besides Harry and Remus were looking puzzled at what he had just said. Even Dumbledore looked a bit confused, Harry noted.
"Everything I said in the letter, Harry, is the truth, and I hope you know that I meant every word. I noticed the rest of you look confused. Well I love to keep people guessing, so If Harry or Remus want to explain at some point then fine, but for now we have other business to attend to. I first want to say that I am happy to have died fighting, and I hope they have caught all of the Death Eaters involved in that battle.
"Everyone who is here is here because you have all been great friends to me, and you all saw past the escaped convict label that the Ministry has put on me. You are also some of the only ones who had faith in the sanity of Dumbledore and Harry Potter this last year. I would like to start by leaving each member of the Weasley family 10,000 galleons. This includes Percy, on the condition that he accepts that his family is doing the right thing, and that Fudge is a bullying git. I will also ask you, Molly and Arthur, to watch over Harry for me as you are already like a second family to him.
"To Miss Hermione Granger, I also leave 10,000 galleons and the contents of the Black family library. You are a very smart young woman, Hermione, and I know you enjoy fresh knowledge. I would like to thank you, Harry and Ron for everything you did to help me escape after our meeting in the shrieking shack a few years ago. If it weren't for you three I would have become victim to the Dementors kiss." Mrs. Weasley gasped again, and Fred and George merely looked shocked at the news that Harry and Ron had found their way into the Shrieking Shack before they did.
"To Tonks, I leave you the Black Family Gold Book and 5,000 galleons. I wish you would use all of the secret family spells to the Order's advantage. Keep hold of it though. I am very glad you have chosen the light side by the way because the spells that protect the book won't let me give it away to anyone outside of blood relations. You thankfully are blood related to me, however distant. Take good care of it, because if you destroy it will reform itself in the hands of either Narcissa Malfoy or Bellatrix Lestrange, my cousins." Sirius spat the names out of his mouth like they were dirt.
"To Alastor Moody I leave the sum of 5,000 galleons. Thank you also for what you are doing this summer. To Minerva McGonagall I leave the sum of 5,000 galleons, and James I wanted to confess for the one time we turned your hair purple, and made bubbles come out of Snape's ears in the back of your class." The whole room, especially the ones who had gone to school with Sirius and James chuckled.
"I remember that," said Remus with a sad sort of smile.
"I didn't know it was you two that made my hair purple"
"I tried to tell you but the bubbles were distracting," said Snape.
"Sorry about that Snivellus, but it was really funny," said Sirius.
After Dumbledore shot him a look, Snape just sat and stared ahead with a look that clearly said that he wasn't there out of his own free will. This angered Harry as he looked over there. He couldn't believe that Snape couldn't put his stupid schoolboy rivalry behind him after so many years, even during a death hearing. Remus looked from Snape to Harry and whispered quietly, "don't let him get to you Harry."
Harry merely nodded. He looked around the room, and studied the faces of those around him. Everyone looked sad, however none of them would miss Sirius like he would with the exception of Remus, beside him. Everyone else had a look of pity for Harry's loss, instead of the terrible sadness he and Remus had to suffer. Harry glanced up at Remus and saw him blink back tears. Harry felt a pang of sorrow for the last of the true marauders, as Remus listened to the last of his best friends voice their death wishes.
Harry looked up and saw that Remus was distracted as Harry. Everyone else in the room suddenly had a weird look on their faces however. Harry briefly wondered if it was more pity. Suddenly he felt Tonks nudge him in the back. He looked up and saw everyone looking at him.
"Harry," Sirius said. "The time limit is almost complete. In five minutes I will disappear again. I must finish the hearing with you and Remus."
Harry realized how long he had been lost in his own thoughts. Sirius had already finished going through all of the others in the room. Harry briefly wondered what Dumbledore had received, however that was not important. He was going to have to watch his godfather, and friend leave him for the second time in a month. Harry felt a lump in his throat, and blinked hard as he felt water creep around the corners of his eyes. He looked at Remus to see that he was having much of the same reaction, and was looking pale. Harry nodded to Sirius.
"I daresay that you and Remus know what I am going to say, due to the letter you received from me a week ago-"
Sirius was cut off as someone said from the back of the room, "Sirius you do realize that you haven't been with us since June?"
"Yes, however Harry and Remus received a letter from me about a week ago, isn't that right?" Sirius asked.
Harry and Remus nodded, and Harry pulled out the letter, with the paw print clearly visible, and Remus spoke. "Yes, Harry received your letter a week ago, and we have read it, and will visit the place you mentioned later today."
Everyone in the room looked dumbfounded. "But how did he receive it a week ago?" Harry recognized the voice as Hermione's. She and the Weasleys were looking confused. Harry held up the letter and spoke.
"This is a letter written by Sirius that I received a week ago. Now if we could please continue."
Everyone was silent.
"To the last of the true marauders, Remus Lupin, I give all of our Marauders Products, with the exception of everything created by James. Those products will go to Harry. I expect you will find these this afternoon. I also leave you the sum of 150,000 galleons. And Moony, watch over Prongs jr. for me. Together you and Arthur can do those father-son things that Prongs and I never got a chance for. Keep him safe."
"To my godson Harry Potter, I leave you the house, and you know my certain requests Harry. Also I leave him the remainder of the Black fortune, 550,000 galleons. You and Remus may also keep anything you find today."
The whole room gasped at what Sirius had left in Harry's possession. A house and 550,000 galleons! That was a lot for someone just under 16.
"I want to let you all know that I died happy to be fighting for the Order, and I don't want anyone to be discouraged. You should all know that you are all here because you have a good heart, and mind, and I don't want anyone to forget that. And Harry, Remus, I want you both to remember the promise made in the Shrieking Shack two years ago. Hermione and Ron should remember this also, as they were witnesses. Peter broke that promise. He owes you his life, Harry. Use it to your advantage."
Harry noticed that the majority of the room still shivered at the sound of Voldemort's name. Harry heard Hermione gasp as she recalled the promise of Peter's death if he had transformed. That irritated him. He couldn't see at that moment why anyone would care if Peter had been killed. As far as Harry was concerned, Peter deserved it. However, he had other things to worry about.
"I must go now. Harry, and Remus, take care. Don't cry for me, live your lives to the fullest, and know that James and I are watching the both of you, and will never truly be gone."
"Padfoot, mate," croaked Remus. "Don't leave."
"Stay here Sirius. Please don't leave us. We really need you." Harry was on the verge of tears.
"I have to go. Don't waste your time brooding over me. Goodbye." With that Sirius was gone in a puff of smoke.
Harry and Remus hung their heads, trying not to cry, as Grazide gave the closing speech. Harry felt a burning behind his eyes. He didn't want to cry infront of all these people, for he didn't want the Order to think him weak. Remus looked at Harry as Grazide finished his speech with a deep sadness in his eyes, and Harry felt for him. He couldn't imagine having to attend Ron and Hermione's hearing, and he didn't want to try. He realized how hard this would be on Remus, and mentally told himself that he would be there to help him through it.
"Let's go. It's over now," Remus said with sadness on his aging face. Harry nodded and they started to make their way to the back of the room. Their guards started to follow them. Harry turned and spoke
"Please don't." He figured they would follow them anyway, but to his surprise, Tonks and the others halted. Harry and Remus continued to make his way to the back of the room.
"Harry, are you alright?" said Hermione's familiar voice.
"I'll be fine," was Harry's reply. He looked up and saw Hermione and the Weasley's looking at him, concerned.
"Are you sure mate?" asked Ron. Harry felt his temper rising again. Couldn't they see that he and Remus would like to leave? Harry looked at Remus to see that Tonks was asking Remus similar questions. This made Harry even madder. Before he could shout at them however, Ginny Weasley spoke up.
"I'm sure you will be fine, Harry," she said in a soothing voice. "Today we are going to collect our things from Gringotts. Do you and Remus want to join us?"
Harry shook his head.
"Okay then," she said with a slight smile. "We will write you tomorrow, as I still have to have a chat with you about your Weasley Temper comment."
This got a small smile out of Harry, while everyone else looked t the two curiously. Ron looked as though he was about to ask what secret conversations had taken place between his best friend and his sister, but Hermione shot him a look that clearly told him to shut up. Harry sighed as Ginny spoke. They were only trying to help. They all knew he was hurting. Ginny seemed to be the only one who realized that he wanted to be left alone however. Harry pulled out the letter, and scanned it quickly, while everyone but Remus looked at it in shock.
"Let's go," Harry said to Remus. They walked out of the doors, down the hallway from which they had come, and out into the bright sunlight of Diagon Alley.
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A/N: Well, I hope you all liked this chappie! I was able to make it pretty long this time, to give you all more to read. I'm sorry there wasn't much Harry/Ginny action, but it was a Hearing…not a lot of room for fluff. There will be more H/G action in the next Chapters though…
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