Chapter 20 Waiting for Results

"Harry calm down," Hermione said.
"Everything's going to be all right Harry," Ginny said.
"Yeah mate," Fred said. "So will ya quit pacing you're making us dizzy. Harry stopped pacing and shoved his hands in his pockets. Sirius had gone with Dumbledore, McGonagall, Lucy and Wood that morning to the Ministry of Magic to turn himself in and present the evidence of his innocence. He knew that Dumbledore wouldn't let anything happen to Sirius if he could prevent it but he couldn't help worrying. He didn't trust the ministry or Cornelius Fudge. He had horrible vision of Fudge pouncing on Sirius the moment he saw him and throwing him back in Azkaban never to escape. They'd been gone several hours. Harry had been waiting in Lucy's office the entire time. Ginny, Hemione, Ron, and the twins ha joined him a short while ago. They all jumped up as Lucy entered with Wood behind her. She looked very tired. Harry ran to her.
"What happened? Where's Sirius? They took him back to Azkaban didn't they? The Dementors performed the kiss"
"Calm down," Lucy said gripping his shoulders. "Sirius is all right"
"What happened?" Ginny asked. Lucy sighed and sank into a chair. Wood came up behind her and put both hands on her shoulders.
"Ministry was in quite a state when we walked in. I don't know who they were more stunned about, me or Sirius. Anyway, we showed Fudge mother's diary. He went on for quite a long time about the authenticity of the diary. Dumbledore challenged him to close it then try to open it again. Of course he could not. Then when I opened it, he admitted it had to be mother's. But of course without Pettigrew's body there's still reasonable doubt of Sirius's innocence"
"He didn't give them to the Dementors," Harry said desperately.
"No, no," Lucy said patting his shoulder. "Fudge has agreed to give Sirius a new trial. Or rather he's agreed to give him a trial, new trial would imply that Sirius was given a trial in the first place"
"A new trial," Hermione said. "What good will that do? We have no evidence other than your mother's diary. If that wasn't enough to convince Fudge"
"Fudge won't be the only one there," Wood chimed in. "There will be a jury of twelve witches and wizards there. If we can't convince them, then Sirius can ask for a truth potion"
"They let you do that?" Ron asked.
"Oh yes," George said. "After Harry took on Voldemort as a baby, oh he's dead don't look at me like that, a lot of his followers were put on trial. The thing of it was you didn't know who was under the Imperius curse, that's when they sort of take over your mind and make you do things against your will, and who joined him all on their own. A lot of wizards who were put on trial requested they be given Veritaserum. Those that didn't had a good reason, the truth would have put them in Azkaban. Most went to Azkaban anyway"
"When is the trial?" Harry wanted to know.
"Three weeks from today," Lucy said. Harry's heart dropped into his stomach.
"Where are they keeping him till then?" Lucy squeezed his shoulder.
"Relax Harry," Lucy said. "He's being kept in a cell at the Ministry. Not exactly luxurious but he'll be comfortable enough. Remus Lupin is with him"
"You met Lupin"
"Yes, his reaction was about the same as Sirius's when he met me. Dumbledore also asked some of our allies at the ministry to check on him every now and again"
"Our allies"
"Yes, Sirius's cousin Tonks works there. We read about her Harry in mother's diary, her mother Andromeda was mother's best friend. Your father and Percy have also agreed to look in on him"
"Percy?" Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny all said together. "Our brother Percy"
"Since when did that stupid prat ever do anything for anyone but himself?" Fred said, disgusted.
"Let's just say I have some information on your brother that I threatened to expose if he didn't do it," Wood said with a sly smirk. "He may not exactly bring Sirius flowers and candy but he'll make sure he's fed"
"What will happen to me in the mean time?" Harry asked quietly. Lucy smiled.
"The ministry has granted me temporary guardianship of you Harry. Dumbledore argued with Fudge for nearly an hour to get him to agree to this. Dumbledore is going to your house right now to get the Dursleys to sign the papers"
"I don't have to go back to the Durslys! I get to live with you"
"Yes," Lucy said. "At least until after Sirius's trial. Once he's been pardoned, and he will be pardoned, he'll be your guardian as mother and James wanted." Harry had never been so happy in his entire life. He didn't have to go back to Privet Drive. He was going to stay with his sister. Sirius was going to be freed and then he'd get to live with him. He was goin to have the one thing he'd long for for so long. A family.
"What do you say to that Harry?" Lucy asked him. He had no words. He flung his arms around his sister never wanting to let go.
"I think he's happy about it," Ron said.