Thank you all for the wonderful reviews :-)
Nikki: I feel very honored that you like the story so much. I try to keep my characters as much 'in character' as possible. There's still a lot to read ... the end is no way near :-)
Thanks also to Dark Zelda, GiGiFanFic and kwndnl
And finally special thanks to Tanya, my twin, for her never-ending source of inspiration, help and support :-)
Now enough with the thanks and on with the story :-)
Chapter 73
The aurors closed in on him and Sirius' hands began to shake when he moved the blade up.
He was determined to terminate his life here and now before he would allow them to lock him up again.
The heavy wooden door opened and closed, but nobody paid attention to it. Albus had risen from the chair and placed a hand on Sirius' arm.
"Don't do anything drastic, my boy"
"Take him to Azkaban"
The black-haired wizard heard the voice of Umbridge like through a very thick layer of fog. His head was spinning when he all of a sudden heard another female voice.
"I trust that you have not paid attention to all the evidence available"
Dumbledore smiled knowingly when Lily proceeded down the steps and stood in front of Fudge.
The minister's jaw hit the floor when he recognized Lily Potter.
"Who is this impostor?" he roared and banged his fist on the desk.
Lily turned to Albus and smiled before she turned towards Fudge and said triumphantly "I am Lily Potter nee Evans and I want to make a statement."
The minister's face switched colors from bright red to ghostly white within seconds and stammered "How can we know that you are truly Lily Potter. As far as I know, she died 14 years ago"
The aurors had moved away from Sirius and were now positioned next to Lily. Sirius, however, had sat down on the chair and cursed Lily for her imprudence.
"I volunteer to take a cancelling potion" the witch said airily and smiled sweetly.
"Have a seat, my dear" said Albus and drew a chair for her.
Lily nodded gratefully and sat down.
Madam Bones took out her monocle and looked inquisitively at Lily.
"We will administer a cancelling potion to you and then I trust you don't mind to answer some questions"
"I would be delighted" Lily answered and they all watched Madam Bones proceeding to the back of the room.
The older witch retrieved a vial from a box and returned to the desk.
"Would you please hand that to the witness" she said and one of the aurors took the vial from her.
Lily swallowed the potion and everyone present waited for a reaction.
After a few minutes, Madam Bones cleared her throat and addressed the Wizengamot.
"I think this is proof enough that the witness is not an impostor."
Then she turned towards Lily and said friendly "Now what would you like to tell us?"
Lily sat up straight in her chair and smiled at Sirius.
"I want to state that Sirius Black has never been our secret keeper. Peter Pettigrew has betrayed our trust. The night when Voldemort came to or house to attack us, I saw Peter among his followers. There is no doubt about that."
"May I first ask you where you have been the last 14 years?" Madam Bones asked her.
"I have been in a coma which was the result of a curse that Voldemort has casted on me"
"I don't believe that rubbish. No matter how many cancelling potions you take I'll never believe that you're Lily Potter" Fudge shouted angrily.
"I trust you believe in the efficiency of your own potions, Cornelius. The witness can't be anyone else but Lily Potter, because all effects of potions taken on an earlier occasion are cancelled now" Dumbledore said and his eyes sparkled behind his half-moon glasses.
"Albus is right, Minster" said a stout witch next to Madam Bones.
Fudge waved his hand dismissively and Madam Bones continued.
"So even when Mr Black has not been your secret keeper, there are still plenty of eyewitnesses who have told us that he murdered Peter Pettigrew"
"I know that Peter is not dead and I also know another person present in this very room who is aware of that as well"
Sirius now stared at Lily in disbelief. What was she intending?
All the eyes were now on Lily, so that nobody recognized the anxious expression on one of the members face.
"I know for a fact that Miss Umbridge knows that Peter Pettigrew is still alive"
Then Fudge's jaw hit the floor for the second time.
His eyes travelled between the shocked expression on Umbridge's and the triumphant on Lily's face.
"I-I have no idea what she's talking about" said Umbridge and her toad-like eyes bulged even more.
Sirius, who had finally found his voice again said then "May I give you a helping hand in this matter Dolores? When my memory is not deceiving me, then you have told me during our last encounter that you know that Peter is still alive"
"Very interesting development" Dumbledore said mockingly and started braiding his beard.
"Well then Dolores, would you mind to take some Verita Serum so that we can prove the content of truth in this statement" Madam Bones asked friendly.
"Oh I certainly mind" Umbridge flared up. "I'm not the one who is accused, so why should I volunteer for such a procedure?"
"If you have nothing to hide, then it should be no problem for you to please our curiosity. On the other hand, if you refuse to answer to these accusations, we will have to assume that what the witness says is true and we will start our own investigation about you, my dear" Madam Bones said sternly.
Umbridge squirmed in her chair. She knew she had lost. There was no way for her to get out of this situation. Her eyes fell on Fudge who glared at her in disgust. "Where is Peter Pettigrew?" the minister asked her with a cold voice. "And don't you dare to tell any lies, Dolores"
There was a deadly silence in the courtroom as Umbridge silently cursed herself for not keeping her mouth shut.
"We are waiting" Madam Bones said.
"I don't know where he is now, but I have seen him at Mr Crouch's house before. One day I went there for ministry business and I saw him at the window when I approached the house."
"And why did you not say anything about that earlier?" Madam Bone said positively shocked.
"I think I can answer that" Sirius said coolly and grinned. "Miss Umbridge has a grudge on me because of a prank me and my friends played on her while we were at Hogwarts"
Fudge and Madam Bones looked at her curiously and Umbridge nodded grimly.
Then all the members of the Wizengamot discussed the matter with each other.
Sirius felt relieved and smiled gratefully at Lily and Albus. He had no idea when the two came up with this idea, but he was very impressed.
After a few minutes, Fudge, who looked frustrated and angry, rose from his chair again.
"Did you make a final decision now?"
The vote was taken again and this time the majority was in favor of clearing Sirius of all charges.
Fudge pinched his eyes together and sighed "Well then... cleared of all charges"
At this moment, Sirius jumped up from his chair and screamed some kind of war cry.
Fudge glared at him in disgust and everyone present could see that the minister was raging inside because he had to set Sirius free.
Then he addressed the aurors and said "Take her to a cell and keep her there, until we have a date for her trial" as he pointed at Umbridge.
Madam Bones gave her a stern look. "I will investigate and you can expect that I will accuse of defalcation of evidence and false accusations."
Then she turned to Sirius and smiled at him warmly. "Please accept our deepest apologies, Mr Black. An official letter about the true circumstances in this case will be presented to the Daily Prophet and the ministry will offer you reparation"
Sirius was smiling from ear to ear and to Lily it seemed that he had grown several inches.
Everybody rose from their chairs Lily approached the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement. "Madam Bones?" The witch looked at Lily expectantly and so she continued. "About the reparation... I think Sirius would like to have his job back and I trust you make sure to unfreeze his assets"
"I will talk to Alastor Moody about the first and personally I will take care of the latter" Madam Bones said friendly and patted Lily's hand.
The aurors had arrested Miss Umbridge and before they led her out of the courtroom, Fudge approached her and hissed. "I will see you shortly, Miss Umbridge, EX-Senior Undersecretary to the Minister."
Umbridge looked crestfallen. She knew she had lost. When the aurors took her out of the room, she looked like she was not even mentally present.
Sirius hugged Lily tightly and wouldn't have stopped thanking her if Albus had not approached.
"Very well, my boy. Finally after all this years, your name is cleared and you can be a full member of the wizarding community"
"Albus, wasn't it too risky to let Lily testify?" Sirius said with concern edged in his voice.
"Severus and I had a long conversation yesterday. Against my instructions, he went to Voldemort's mansion to gather informations. There he heard that they tortured the healer, who tested Dudley Dursley. Voldemort knows that at least Lily is alive, so there was no need to keep her existence a secret any longer" Dumbledore said with a low voice while he led Sirius and Lily out of the courtroom.
"But what about James?" Sirius whispered as they reached the heavy wooden door.
"Did anybody ask about him?" Lily retorted and smiled slyly.
Sirius ruffled his hair and grinned. "Let's go home and celebrate"
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Zara's cell had been furnished with a simple bed a little table and chair, as well as a little place in the corner that she could use as a bathroom.
The Ravenclaw had been very surprised when Bellatrix had returned and talked to her in a sweet voice. "My dear, the Dark Lord wishes to make your stay as comfortable as possible"
First Zara had asked for a light and some water, because after 2 days in the cell and no place to use as a bathroom, she felt very dirty, but unfortunately she had no mirror to see if she was clean.
Lestrange seemed to be very eager to make sure Zara was comfortable, and that scared the girl even more than the brutal behavior before.
When she sat down at the table to eat the meal, which was quite opulent in comparison to what Malfoy had left for her, she felt like a convict shortly before the execution.
When Zara was finished, Bellatrix vanished the dishes and started a new interrogation.
After a very short period of time, the witch had problems to remain calm. The girl remained silent and wouldn't answer any questions.
"Your obdurateness will bring you nowhere, child" she hissed. "We will get the information, one way or another"
Zara could see the mad sparkle in her eyes as Bellatrix left the cell once more.
Then she recognized that two dementors had been positioned in front of her cell again and soon her brain was cloaked with white fog and the cruel laughter of Lucius Malfoy and their last encounter rang through her mind.
She whimpered in terror as she cowered down on her bed once more.
When she woke up she had no idea how much time had passed, but her mind was clear and the dementors had left their positions.
In the distance she heard the wailing of the woman again and she wondered where she was.
Her best guess was Azkaban. The dementors and the scent of the ocean were a good indication.
She listened closely and tried to recognize the words the woman was screaming, but it was too far away.
However, something about the voice was familiar; she just couldn't put the finger on it.
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Early that morning, Severus had apparated to the coast. He was sure that he had drawn the right conclusion and was quite calm.
He approached the building carefully and cowered close at the entrance, hidden under James' invisibility cloak.
The sun was just rising over the sea as Lucius Malfoy apparated not far away from him. He cursed his former companion silently. All those years he had spent in the company of Malfoy, had shown him what the pleasure the deatheater preferred was like and he knew that Malfoy wouldn't live very much longer if he had laid his hands on Zara.
Severus was aware that he had to find her before Malfoy paid her another visit. It was important that she was in a safe place, before anybody found out she was gone. He would deal with Lucius later.
Carefully he followed the deatheater inside and tiptoed down the steps into the basement vault until he was out of earshot.
He also felt the presence of dementors close by, but not close enough to affect him.
He paced down the gloomy corridor and wondered if it had been magically enlarged, when he heard someone sobbing.
He picked up the pace and soon reached a cell door. All this reminded him very much of his own short imprisonment in the vampire castle.
He concentrated at the task at hand and raised his wand.
Prepared to overcome every ward known in the wizarding world, he started with the easiest spell "Alohomora"
When the door sprung open, he snorted in disgust and muttered "Dunderheaded fools. Exactly this is why they're not going to win"
"Snape!" Zara cried out, partly happy, partly astonished.
Severus rushed over to the bed and looked at her inquisitively, while he took off the cloak.
"Are you hurt?"
"No, not really. Just scared, tired, hungry and SCARED" Zara answered and tears of relief fell freely now.
"Hush, my sweet. It's all ok now" he soothed her.
Before he even recognized it, she had thrown her arms around his neck and sobbed "I'm so glad to see you"
He was totally taken aback. Not since he had joined the deatheaters, he had heard somebody saying that to him.
Zara held on to him for dear life and he put his arms around her and stroked her dirty hair as if it was just natural for him.
"We have to leave immediately" he urged and pulled her off the bed.
"There is another prisoner in here. I have heard her at night" she said weakly as they reached the door. "We can't leave her here"
"You are my first concern and I want you out of here right now" Severus retorted, opened the door and pulled her into the corridor.
"I'm not leaving without her" she then said stubbornly and remained standing in the doorway.
Severus heaved a sigh. "You're Gryffindor friends are rubbing off on you. Constantly backtalking!" Despite her desperate situation, she giggled at his comment.
"So if you insist, I will go and look for her. You remain here until I return. Here, take this wand in case someone shows up"
Zara took the wand he handed her and looked at it curiously. "That's not my wand, but whose is it?"
"My sister's" Snape answered darkly before he rushed down the corridor.
"What am I doing...what in the name of Merlin am I doing!" he muttered while he looked out for other prisoners.
He had a distinct feeling that he knew who Zara had heard and this was one of the reasons why he didn't want her to accompany him.
He reached the last cell and found what he had feared.
"Elena, are you alright?" Severus asked her and bent down to the woman, who was cowering on the bare stone floor.
"Severus" she whispered. "Is...Is..."
"Everything is fine" Snape cut her off. "I worry about you and..."
His eyes trailed to the still form she was cowering next to and she shook her head sadly.
"You have to leave here immediately and go to St Mungo's. Have you ever travelled by portkey?"
She nodded and he reached into his pocket and retrieved a small coin. "Portus" he muttered and handed it to the woman on the floor.
"Take him with you" he then said and the woman disappeared with the corpse.
Then he rushed back to Zara, who was still standing in the doorway, wand in hand.
"She was injured, so I sent her to St Mungo's" he said shortly and Zara recognized the teacher's voice that wouldn't allow any further inquiries.
"Are you sure you don't need to see a healer?" he questioned her, but she shook her head frantically.
"All I want is to shower until eternity and eat until I feel like puking" she replied. Now that Severus was here, she felt safe and confident.
He then retrieved a feather from his robes and beckoned her to touch it. Within seconds they were gone.
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The party at headquarters was in full progress. James and Harry had been out of their minds for joy when Sirius and Lily had returned to Hogwarts. They invited Mad-Eye Moody, Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore and Remus, along with Hagrid, Celeste and Kimberly, who had recovered quickly to celebrate the good news.
Mrs Weasley was dabbing her eyes with her apron as she heard that Sirius was cleared of all charges.
The twins had found an old banner with the lettering "Happy Birthday Sirius" in the attic and tried to change it into "Congratulations Sirius", but it wouldn't work.
No matter how hard they tried, the banner refused to change but screamed terribly.
They finally quit and put the banner up nevertheless.
When they all assembled in the kitchen Sirius laughed heartily at the lettering and chanced a glance at the Weasley twins, who looked innocently.
"Well, it's not even farfetched" he said and smiled at the other marauders. "In one way I have been reborn today"