Chapter 22 Free at Last

"Harry will you please stop pacing, you're making me sea-sick!" Lucy practically shouted from the sofa.
"It's been over three hours, shouldn't we have heard something by now?" "Harry, calm down!" Lucy said.
"I can't"
"You leave me no choice," Lucy said. "Oliver give me your wand." "You are not using my wand to kill your brother"
"I don't want to kill him I just want to stun him. Temporarily"
"When are we going to get you your own wand?" Wood asked tenderly stroking Lucy's hair.
"Why do I need a wand"
"Because you won't always be able to borrow from other people." The fire suddenly turned green.
"Incoming," Lucy said standing up. With a loud crack Ginny appeared in the fireplace. Lucy grabbed her hand and pulled her quickly from the fireplace. Not a moment too soon, for she was quickly followed by Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George.
"Mother and Bill will be here in a moment," Ginny said dusting herself off. She glanced at Harry who was still pacing.
"How long has he been doing that?" she asked Wood.
"Since this morning," Wood said. Ginny went over and grabbed Harry and planted a big kiss on his lips.
"Oh, hello," Harry said stopping the pacing to wrap his arms around her.
"Hmm now why didn't I think of that?" Lucy mused softly then jumped about seven feet when Mrs. Weasly apparated into the room.
"I am never going to get used to that!" Lucy snapped.
"Any word?" Bill asked.
"Lupin and Tonks should be back any time now," Wood said. "If all went as planned Sirius should be with them." "He will be with them," Lucy said. "Let's show a little optimism here people. In the mean time, why don't we all sit down and try to be calm." They all sat around the living room in silence. Every tick of the clock was like a loud bong in all thier heads. THe tension in the room could have been cut with a knife. Finally the door opened and a very tired looking Lupin came in. Harry was on him in a second.
"Where's Sirius"
"Harry relax. The trial went better than we expected, Sirius didn't even need the truth serum"
"What?" Mrs. Weasley gasped. "How...I mean"
"Apparently there were several people who harbored the slightest doubt that Sirius betrayed Lily and James, and Lily's diary was just enough to confirm that doubt in thier minds"
"So he's been freed?" Harry said barely willing to beleive it.
"Freed and cleared!" Sirius shouted coming in behind Lupin, Tonks trailing behind him. Unable to contain himself Harry lunged at his godfather and threw his arms around him. Bill picked up Ginny and spun her around, Lucy hugged Wood, Hermione hugged Ron, Fred and George danced around the living room, and Mrs. Weasley wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.
"I can't believe it," Harry said. "I can't believe it, you're free"
"I know," Sirius said. "I've waited thirteen years for this day"
"Congratulations Sirius," Lucy said taking his hand. "This calls for a celebration! Cake and Pumpkin Juice for everyone in the kitchen." Fred and George hollered in delight and hurried into the kitchen followed by Ron and Hermione.
"You were so sure he'd get off that you baked a cake?" Tonks wondered aloud.
"Well, if Sirius got off we'd need a cake to celebrate, if he didn't I eat when I'm depressed. Either way I was covered." The party lasted long into the night. Harry sat back and gazed at the people around him. He couldn't believe it. Sirius was free. No more hiding, no more secrets, his godfather was free and he was going to live with him. He'd talked it over with Sirius and it was all set. Tomorrow they were going to go to Sirius's family house. Apparently, after the death of his parents Sirius had inherited their house though until now he'd had no desire to live there. It was a huge house with plenty of rooms so Lucy would be living with them. His sister had seemed hesitant to accept Sirius's offer but Sirius had managed to persuade her. Lucy was still a bit unsure around Sirius, unlike Lupin whom she'd taken an immediate like to. Harry hoped that they would grow to love each other as he loved both of them.
"Penny for your thoughts, mate?" Ron said sitting beside him. Harry smiled.
"It's been a crazy year, mate," he said. Ron laughed and leaned back in his chair.
"Tell me about it. First the attacks, then you and Ginny get together, then you find out you've got a sister"
"I finally defeat Voldemort, and I get away from the Dursley's and now Sirius is free"
"Yeah," Ron said. "A lot to happen to one person in a short time"
"You know Ron," Harry said. "I never had any friends till I met you and Hermione. All that's happened since I found out I was a wizard, I never could have got through it without you." Ron blushed and swallowed hard.
"You would have gotten through," Ron said. "But thanks mate"
"We've had some good times," Harry said. "Remember second year when we took the Ford Anglia to Hogwarts and lost it in the forest?" Ron laughed.
"Yeah," he said. "What about when we made Lockhardt go down into the chamber of secrets with us and he tried to erase our memories, only he had my broken wand and it backfired on himself." Harry laughed.
"Those were good times," he said.
"We didn't think it was too fun at the time"
"I know. But still they were good times. You were the first family I ever knew Ron. I mean to everyone else I was "The-Boy-Who-Lived." But to you I was always just Harry." Ron grinned and threw an arm around him.
"Heck Harry," he said. "You were just as good of a friend to me. I lived in my brothers' shadows for so long. You were the first one who ever made me feel special and unique." Harry grinned.
"It's been great knowing you, Ron"
"You too mate. And hey, we've got good times ahead of us. OWL's next year. Then the NEWT's"
"Graduating from Hogwarts," Harry said. "Starting careers"
"Getting married," Ron said glancing at Hermione and Ginny. "Having kids"
"It's gonna be a wild ride," Harry said.
"It's gonna be great."