A/N: This update comes to you, ladies and gentlemen, from the state of Florida, where I am currently enjoying a lovely weekend with the family before beginning my summer job in Orlando on Monday. Mum and I are hard at work writing, hoping to resume more regular updates now that school is out (though I still have two big fat papers to write and a big fat law firm to impress.) And now you behold the REAL reason I resurrected Sirius: no fan of courtroom drama will ever forgive The Great Ms. Rowling for denying us...

Chapter Forty-One: The Trial of Sirius Black, Part I

The grey stone walls dripped with moisture, their individual stones streaked with noxious mold. Harry shivered, chilled to the bone by the dampness and revolted by the smell. The hallways reeked of centuries of decay and the heavy burden of depression. His stomach clenched at the thought that Sirius was confined here again, away from warmth and sunlight, away from him.

Fear seemed to leach from the walls itself. It was all Harry could do to keep walking, but his feet continued to move, slowly, one step and then another, carrying him in a trancelike state toward a cell he knew contained his godfather. How he knew, he could not say.

He reached his destination, the heavy, reinforced door that blocked the entrance to the cell where Sirius was being held until trial. Harry stopped in front of it, and glanced around for a guard. No one was in evidence; in fact, he seemed to be the only person in this area of the prison. He put a hand out and gave the door a tentative push. The door swung open silently, effortlessly. Holding his breath, Harry stepped into the cell. A figure stood alone in the center of the room, features hidden by a dark, hooded cloak, the train of which covered a good portion of the floor in the small space.

A Dementor! But...the Dementors weren't supposed to be in Azkaban anymore! What was this one doing here?

"Where's Sirius Black?" His heart pounding in his chest, Harry barely managed to croak out the question.

The figure made no move toward Harry, and Harry stood there, frozen in panic. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. Then a cold, voice, raspy like Voldemort's, echoed through the empty cell. "Sirius Black has been executed."

Then the figure turned. It was not a Dementor. Beneath the hood was a skeletal face, empty eye sockets, white mouth pulled back in a malevolent grin.

It was not a Dementor. The creature in Sirius's cell was Death.

"Ahhhhhhh! No! No!" Harry came bolt upright, scrambling out of bed and lunging for the door, only to be slammed to the floor by the weight of another person.

"Bloody hell! What is it?"

"Screaming like a bloody Banshee!"

"Harry! Is it a vision?"

The sight of Ron's face broke through the panicked fog that clouded his mind. "Sirius—dead—executed—" His throat closed. He could only grip Ron's arms. Seamus and Neville stared at him with white faces.

"No, Harry, no! It's a dream. He's alive!" Ron shook him, trying to get through. "It's not like last time. He's going to have a trial!" Ron shook him again. "He's protected. McGonagall won't let them hurt him."

The other boys around him were nodding and murmuring in agreement. Neville reached over and patted his shoulder. "Listen to him, Harry. Just a dream, like he says."

A feeling of relief rushed through him, so intense that Harry was glad he was on the floor. If he'd been standing, he knew his legs would never have supported him. He took a deep breath and managed a shaky nod at his friends.

"Sorry about that. It was so real..." He couldn't finish.

"S'okay," Seamus replied. "We had to get up anyway." He and Neville headed off to the bathrooms, Seamus muttering something about, "Could think of better noise to wake up to."

Harry turned back to Ron, who hadn't moved from his side. "I need to talk to Snape...about the dream...about Sirius."

"Snape? You think it's Voldemort?"

Sitting back on the floor against the side of his bed, Harry thought about it, then sighed. "I don't know. Maybe not. Could've been just a...nightmare, I guess." He looked at his friend and said, "Maybe Remus, then. There's..." He caught himself, unsure if he should say what he was thinking.

Ron frowned at him. "What?"

Taking a deep breath, Harry admitted, "I really want to see Sirius. I've been wondering if I can get Remus to take me."

"Dunno, mate. They say Azkaban's a pretty nasty place."

"I know, and Sirius told Remus he doesn't want me to ever see it," Harry sighed, dropping his head onto his knees. "I just...I want to talk to him so much. And it could be days, weeks before the trial; I'll go mad by then."

Ron nodded, his face grim. "Don't blame you, though you'll have a time talking Remus into it. He got back from the Ministry last night. Come on." He hauled himself to his feet and held out a hand to Harry, pulling him up. "Let's get Hermione and Ginny and go to breakfast."

Negotiating the halls of Hogwarts struck Harry as something akin to running a gauntlet. He supposed by now that he should be used to the whispers and covert glances that followed him. But just as they reached the doors of the Hall, he heard the name "Sirius Black" hissed out, and he froze. Before he could turn to identify the speaker, Ron stepped up next to him.

"Let it go, mate." Ron's face was set, and Hermione's anxious eyes watched him as he led the way to the Gryffindor table. They took seats, and were greeted by the others around them.

Hermione picked up her usual piece of toast and took a small bite, watching as Ron pushed food around on the plate with his fork. She sighed, "Ron, try to eat something."

For a moment, anger flashed across his face as he turned towards her, then the set look returned. "Yeah. Sure, Hermione." He picked up the fork and took a mouthful of eggs.

Harry looked at Ginny, who was staring at her brother, distress visible on her face. Thinking of the night before last, he cautiously reached over and took her hand in his. She gave him a slight smile, her eyes red. She'd been crying last night. Ginny cried often; Harry was well aware. Quiet tears would fall when they talked about Percy. Her grief was open, and somehow to Harry, that seemed natural and right. But Ron...

Harry felt a little twist of confused worry inside as he watched his friend. Ron had appeared to be handling things all right immediately after Percy's death, but that changed as the days went by. He seemed to be functioning automatically, his emotions held in so tightly that the real Ron couldn't get past. It was weird, seeing a Ron who didn't rant about Slytherins and the war, fret about Quidditch, and think about nothing but food. Maybe I should talk to Remus about that too..

His thoughts about his friend were interrupted as the mail was delivered, owls swooping low over the tables. A large brown owl, bearing a very official-looking scroll, from which hung a large ornate seal, made its way to the head table. All eyes watched as the owl delivered its burden to Professor McGonagall. The other professors leaned forward in their seats. Harry admired the dignified manner with which she took the scroll, pausing to reward the owl and watching it fly out of the hall, before breaking the seal.

Her eyes scanned the contents of the scroll, and then she looked towards Snape and gave a slight nod. He turned and addressed the assembled students.

"Students, silence! Pay attention."

Professor McGonagall rose, the scroll in her hand. Her voice was steady. "Per the decision of the Board of Govenors, I have been officially confirmed as Headmistress of Hogwarts. This school has been through difficult...terribly difficult times recently, but I assure you that we shall continue to provide excellence in Wizarding education, in accordance with our long and rich tradition."

With that, she resumed her seat, and the other professors rose to come forward and congratulate her. Almost as one, the student body rose and applause rang through the hall.

Attempting to concentrate on classwork for the remainder of the morning proved futile, as different plans and plots for persuading Remus to take him to Azkaban, raced through Harry's mind. He spared a momentary thought to hope that Hermione would be willing to help him with the class material later. Momentary only, for he was sure that she would cooperate with anything that had to do with saving Sirius.

Harry planned to escape his friends at lunch and avoid having them accompany him to see Remus. He couldn't exactly explain to Ron that he was consulting Remus about him, nor could he risk having Hermione forestall his attempt to persuade Remus to take him along on his next visit to Sirius.

His initial attempt to sneak away met with immediate failure, as Ron was waiting outside the door of the classroom when Harry exited. Hermione came out right behind him, and he was well and truly trapped between them.

"Right," said Harry, a little too brightly. "Thought I'd skip lunch. You know...stuff to do."

Hermione shot him a look that brooked no dissension. "You'll skip lunch, but for something more important. Come with me, and don't argue." Ron looked as bewildered as Harry felt, so they fell in line beside Hermione as she marched them off through the hallways, stopping when they came to the door of an unused classroom. Ginny was peering out the door, her anxious face relaxing into a grin when she saw them. "Perfect. She's here, and we're ready to go."

Harry followed Hermione into the room and heard Ron shut the door behind them. It was an empty lecture classroom, with rows of long tables facing a center desk. Perched on the desk, swinging her leg, a disgruntled expression on her face, was Rita Skeeter. On seeing him, her eyes widened behind her gaudy glasses. "Well, well. Harry Potter. Things are getting interesting." She frowned as Hermione came forward, and turned back to Harry. "Your tyrannical little friend promised me that this trip would be worth my while. So—what have you got?"

At a loss as to what he was supposed to say, Harry glanced at Hermione. She gave Rita a tight smile and said, "Harry is going to give you a statement about the innocence of Sirius Black."

Rita grimaced. "You brought me out here for that? Everyone heard him say that the day Dumbledore died. I'd be lucky if I could get the Quibbler to carry it!"

"Great idea," Ginny responded. "Ron, how about seeing if you can find Luna, and we'll kill two birds with one stone."

"Don't bother," Rita snapped. "I'm leaving. You've wasted my time."

Hermione stepped in front of her. "You're missing the point, Rita. Everyone heard what Harry yelled, but you, Rita Skeeter, are going to have the exclusive interview with Harry Potter. In fact, you're the only reporter he'll talk to. Isn't that right, Harry?" Harry opened his mouth to reply, but Hermione went on. "You know, Rita, this trial is going to be followed very closely...verrry closely...and anyone who wants to know how Sirius Black and Harry Potter are dealing with it will have to come to you."

Ginny jumped in. "Not only the Daily Prophet, but the other smaller papers and the weekly magazines will be lining up to get the exclusive story from Rita Skeeter!"

Rita, by then, had stopped in her tracks. She slowly turned around, smiling greedily. "Now that's more like it." She pulled out her pad and quill. "Talk to me, Harry."

They pulled up chairs and sat in a group in front of her. Harry gave her the story of what had happened to Sirius since he escaped from Azkaban, leaving out any references to the Order of the Phoenix. He described the confrontation between Sirius, Remus, and Pettigrew, mentioning Pettigrew's confession to the murder of the Muggles in the street, as well as his admission that he'd given Harry's parents up to Voldemort.

Rita's quill stopped scratching as she stared in astonishment. "You mean to tell me that you've actually seen Pettigrew alive!"

"The three of us have," Harry replied, indicating himself, Ron, and Hermione, "and I saw him again the night Voldemort," Rita flinched and dropped her quill, "returned. Pettigrew is working for him."

Rita snatched up the quill, and it began racing across the pad. "So, Pettigrew is a dark wizard, sold his best friends to You-Know-Who to be slaughtered and framed another—great angle. I'll have my readers weeping for Sirius Black."

"You don't need to sensationalize it. It's a wild enough story as it is," cautioned Hermione.

Rita's lips compressed into a thin line. "You just let me handle the writing, dear." She jumped off the table and pocketed the pad and quill. "Your word, Mr. Potter. You talk to no other reporter, but me."

"That's right," responded Harry. "So long as you make sure that you sway public opinion to side with Sirius."

Rita grinned as she made for the door. "Just watch for the fireworks! Ta!" She headed out.

Ron was staring after her. "Wow. Hermione, do you think that was a good idea?"

Hermione nodded. "Oh yes. The power of the press. Right now, we need to use everything we've got to help Sirius." She stood lost in thought for a moment, then smiled. "I'll talk to Headmistress McGonagall. I bet I can persuade her to make Rita Skeeter the only reporter that Hogwarts staff will talk to!"

Harry had to grin. "I'm glad you're working for us, Hermione."

Ron put an arm around her as they left the classroom, looking smug. "That's my girl."

EXTRA! Sirius Black: An Innocent Man Framed By You-Know-Who's Followers!
Harry Potter tells Black's story in this Rita Skeeter exclusive!

"Bloody hell, that woman works fast," Neville muttered, impressed when the Daily Prophet arrived during dinner. "This is all true?"

Harry nodded absently. He could see Remus at the head table, talking to McGonagall. He knew Remus would be going to visit Sirius again in the next few days, and the longer Harry thought about it, the more determined he was to go along.

I have to see Sirius.

He wasn't even quite sure why. Everyone assured him that Mr. McGongall would make sure Sirius was kept safe until the trial, and that Fudge would never win his case, but Harry couldn't shake a desperate need to see his godfather face to face. To talk to him. To let Sirius know that no matter what happened, Harry would do whatever he had to to finally win his freedom.

"—ee, it's not that far off, Harry."

Blinking back to the present, Harry turned to Hermione. "What?"

Hermione pointed to the article. "The trial starts next Monday. It's only a few more days."

"Oh," he rubbed his eyes. "Yeah."

He picked at his food awhile longer, mostly to keep Hermione from harping at him about it. Finally he put down his fork and stood up. "I'm going to talk to Remus about the trial."

Ron swung around immediately. "Want me to come?"

Harry hesitated for a moment, then decided just to tell the truth. "Thanks, but I'd rather talk to him alone."

Ron stared at him, finally turning back to the table when Hermione put a hand on his arm. "Harry'll be fine; they just need to talk about Sirius."

"Sure," Ron said. "See you in the common room later."

As Harry set off through the halls towards Remus's office, his mind was churning. Worry about Ron mixed with worry about his godfather, and Harry felt a sense of panic inside. He was beginning to feel as if events and people were spinning out of control again. He shook himself, fixing a purpose in his mind. He would see Sirius and he would help Ron somehow. But first things first—to talk to Remus.

Remus welcomed Harry into his office as usual, but his manner betrayed a hint of wariness. He was obviously expecting Harry to demand to see Sirius. Harry knew he was going to have to approach the subject carefully. He slid into the nearest chair and watched Remus sit down across from him. "There's...I wanted to ask...it's about Ron."

Remus raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What about Ron?"

"He's..." Harry hesitated. "He's all wound up...like he's ready to explode. He seems...angry all the time. I thought it might be Percy, but he doesn't ever talk about it. And the weirdest thing is," Harry paused, "he's always staring at us."

"Us?" Remus prodded.

"Me, Hermione, Ginny. And he watches everyone around us in a way that's just...weird," Harry finished. "I dunno why it's just...not like him, I guess."

Remus leaned back in his chair and lifted a tired hand to rub across his eyes. Harry felt a momentary pang of remorse at bringing more troubles to him. He knew Remus was spending extra time with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, trying to support them after Percy's death. Not to mention that he was visiting Sirius in Azkaban nearly every day.

With a sigh, Remus opened his eyes and smiled at Harry. "I could use a break. Tea?"

Harry nodded. "Sure."

After serving them both with cups, Remus sat back. "To be honest, Harry, I think Ron's behavior is pretty much to be expected."

Harry frowned. "I know he's upset, I mean...who wouldn't be after...you know, his brother..." Remus nodded. "But the way he acts...it's just...not Ron. I don't know."

Remus shook his head. "It's not only Percy's death that he's dealing with. And he's angry at himself. You can certainly understand that a little, can't you? His brother and sister were wounded in the Quidditch attack and he couldn't protect them, then he saw his two closest friends go down right in front of him. He couldn't stop that either. Then Percy."

"Ron couldn't have prevented that; he couldn't have stopped any of it," Harry protested.

"I know that," replied Remus. "That's why he's angry: because he couldn't. Think about what you've been willing to do to prevent any more harm from coming to the people you care about. Ron's capable of feeling that way as well. And like all of us, he's wondering what will happen next: who will be hurt next time—and how he can prevent it next time. Ron's ready to fight."

Harry sighed heavily. "I guess I can see that. So what do I do?"

"Just keep being his friend," Remus said earnestly. "That's all you can do, and the most important thing you should do. He needs you. For a time he won't realize just how much he needs you, just as you didn't realize at times how much you needed your friends. He may attempt to shut you out, but don't try to force him to talk. He'll do that when he's ready. Just be there for him."

Harry stared out the window, thinking hard. He'd felt a lot of things in the past year with everything that had happened. Maybe it wasn't that surprising that Ron could feel the same way when things were bad. "I'll do that," he said out loud, glancing at Remus, who nodded in approval. Then he swallowed and said carefully, "How was Sirius last night?"

Remus sighed and shrugged. "He's pretty quiet. He's heavily guarded; no one's taking a chance on his getting away again, but at least the Dementors are gone. Still," Remus shook his head. "He's quiet."

With a deep breath, Harry plunged in. "When you go tomorrow, I'm going—"

"Harry," Remus tried to cut him off, but Harry raised his voice slightly.

"I want to go with you to see him," he made his voice as firm as he could. This wasn't a request. "He's my godfather. I'm not waiting until the trial to see him again when I won't even get a chance to talk to him!"

"Harry, listen to me!" Remus said sharply. Harry folded his arms, letting the werewolf know that he'd listen, but he had no intention of changing his mind. Remus began to pace, startling Harry with his resemblance to Sirius at that moment. "For one thing, it's not even safe for you to be outside Hogwarts right now. And visitation to Azkaban is seriously limited even under the best circumstances, which these aren't. You're not exactly a favorite of the Ministry right now, you're also underage, so the odds of getting a pass out of them for you are slim to none. And if we do get in, Sirius is under heavy guard—Aurors hand-picked by Fudge—and they're not going to make it a comfortable situation. Lastly, and most important, Sirius has made it very clear that he doesn't want you ever coming to Azkaban."

Harry drummed his fingers on the arms of his chair, and waited until Remus had stopped pacing and sat down again. "But you get to see him every time, and you're a werewolf. They can't exactly like the idea of you going either. Mr. McGonagall got you in, and Sirius is my guardian. That's got to count for something." He looked away, embarrassed at the burning in his eyes. "I have to see him, Remus. He's my godfather. I've been dreaming of him dead. I just want to talk to him, you know, tell him..."

"I know," said Remus gently. "But he doesn't want you in Azkaban, ever. It's...Harry, it's already hard enough for him to deal with, what you're going to have to go through during his trial. That's his nightmare, the thought of you in that place, even if it's to visit him. It's easier on him to know that you're here at Hogwarts."

Harry stood up and folded his arms. "He needs me. He doesn't realize it, so he's trying to shut me out. I want to be there for him, whether it's Azkaban or anywhere else. You said that was what I should do for Ron. Why not Sirius?"

Remus blinked. For a moment, he just stared at Harry. Then he got up and stared out the window. Finally, he said, "I'll talk to Murdo. See what he can work out."

Harry let out his breath in a rush. "You mean it?"

With a wry chuckle, Remus nodded. "All right, you've convinced me, although I don't relish explaining that part to Sirius. He made me promise you'd never enter Azkaban even if it meant his never seeing you again."

"But he'll be glad to see me, even if he doesn't like where it is," said Harry stubbornly. "It's stupid that we shouldn't get to see each other just because he doesn't want me to see Azkaban."

"He has a point; it's a horrid place," Remus remarked. But he raised a hand and said, "But I'll do it; what you've said makes sense, and between that and your twisting my words, I never had a chance." He gave Harry a sly smile. "I think you've been spending too much time with a certain Slytherin professor."

Harry laughed. "You're the one who made me take lessons with him!"

Harry was pleased, upon Flooing to the Ministry with Remus, to find Murdo McGonagall waiting for them with the necessary passes to clear Harry's visit. When Mr. McGonagall announced that he would be accompanying them to Azkaban as well, Harry felt a sense of relief. He was still concerned that he might be prevented from seeing Sirius, and he was sure that Mr. McGonagall could stop any attempt to block the visit.

The group portkeyed to the dock where they boarded a small boat for the journey across the water to Azkaban prison. The wind on the water was cold, and Harry was grateful for the thick jumper and heavy cloak that Remus had insisted he wear. No one had much to say, and Harry was occupied staring at the building that loomed over them as they drew closer to the island. It was a forbidding sight, a hulking structure of drab grey stone against a bleak sky, resembling nothing so much as a huge mausoleum. The boat pulled into position, and as the group started up the path that led to the prison, Harry could sense the power of the wards and magic pressing down on them. He suppressed a shiver, not wanting anyone to see that he was uneasy.

At the entrance, they were confronted by a phalanx of Aurors, wands at ready. Harry felt Remus's hand tighten on his arm. A single Auror came forward and curtly requested their permits. Calmly, Murdo McGonagall produced a packet of papers, which the Auror studied intently for several minutes. Harry continued to stare up at the grim building towering over them. He started when Remus gave him a slight push, then realized that the Aurors had moved to allow them to enter.

Harry fully expected the walls to be dripping with the molds and moisture of his dream. Instead, the interior halls were the same bleak grey stone as the exterior, the air cool and very dry. The deeper they moved into the building, the colder it became. The halls were silent, save for their footfalls and those of their Auror escort. They reached an open area where several halls intersected, and there they were ordered to turn over their wands to an older Auror who sealed them in a vault in the wall. An expression of distaste passed over the man's face as he took Remus's wand. Harry frowned, but again felt Remus's hand tighten on his arm in warning.

After surrendering their wands, the group continued down another series of bleak hallways. The air grew colder and drier, reinforcing the tomblike atmosphere. They were stopped yet again at a checkpoint halfway down a hallway, and Remus leaned over to quietly indicate the door at the far end.

"Is that where...?" Harry asked. Remus nodded. "Then why are we being held up?"

Remus posed the question to one of the Aurors at the checkpoint, turned back to Harry and explained that they would have to wait until the current visitor left. At Harry's look of puzzlement, Remus smiled. "Family," he said.

"What? Who..." Before Harry could frame his question, the door to Sirius's cell opened and he grinned as Tonks stepped out. Her robe was open over a brilliant red jumper and muggle jeans, and her hair was platinum blonde, short and spiked. As the door swung shut behind her, she made her way to them.

"Miss Tonks," Murdo McGonagall greeted her. "You certainly are bright."

"Yeah, well..." she smiled at Harry and reached over to ruffle his untidy hair. "They need some color in this dismal place."

"How's Sirius?" Harry inquired anxiously.

"Gloomy," Tonks replied. "I'm glad you're here. Seeing you will cheer him up." She turned aside to Remus and said something under her breath that Harry didn't catch. Remus nodded, and avoided Harry's eyes as he moved forward towards the cell.

A burly Auror stepped in front of them and held up a restraining hand. "The boy cannot go into the prisoner's cell."

"What?" Harry blurted, and Tonks turned in outrage toward the Auror. Seeing the wizard's stubborn scowl, Harry stared despairingly at Sirius's cell door, only a few yards away, and protested, "No!"

"What's the meaning of this, Seldon?"

Murdo McGonagall gestured for quiet. "On what grounds are you preventing the boy from entering?"

The Auror's scowl deepened. "The boy is underage. He can't go in without a guardian present."

Remus responded quietly. "I am acting as the boy's guardian."

"Acting?" The Auror raised his eyebrows.

Mr. McGonagall produced another packet of papers. "Mr. Lupin is acting as the boy's guardian while his actual guardian, his godfather, Sirius Black, is imprisoned and awaiting trial. I have here the legal forms, signed by Sirius Black, naming Remus Lupin as the boy's guardian. Furthermore, I have a permission form from the Headmistress of Hogwarts, "his lips twitched," authorizing the boy's trip to see his godfather. Along with his Ministry pass, this should confirm the boy's right to enter the cell."

The Auror wasn't finished. "Only one visitor allowed in the cell at any time."

Harry could almost feel the contained fury emanating from Remus. This time it was he who squeezed Remus's arm in warning.

Mr. McGonagall spoke again. "The boy's guardian must be present, Mr. ...Seldon, is it? That means both of them will be allowed into the cell. And your Auror identification number is?"

The Auror shifted uneasily. "Why would you need my number, uh, sir?"

His eyes cold, Mr. McGonagall answered. "To take action against you for deliberately obstructing persons legally authorized to visit my client."

Seldon wilted visibly. "That wasn't my intention, sir."

McGonagall stared at him. "I sincerely hope not. Now, Mr. Lupin and his charge will proceed to the cell to visit my client. I will wait here with Miss Tonks. Do you have any further objections?"

The Auror quickly shook his head and moved aside, and Harry almost shouted with relief as he and Remus headed towards the cell. Upon reaching the door, it opened in front of them, and they stepped inside.

The cell was icy cold and very small. The bleak stone walls were unrelieved by any opening. The room was dimly lit – by what means, Harry couldn't see. A ledge, made of the same bleak stone, jutted narrowly out of the opposite wall. And on the ledge reclined Sirius Black, a thin blanket rolled up under his head, acting as a pillow of sorts. At the sound of their entrance, he turned his head to face the door, his eyes dull and disinterested.

Then he leapt to his feet as if he'd been hit with a Shocking Hex, staring in disbelief.

"Harry, what the...! Dammit, Remus – I told you..." Sirius turned on his friend furiously.

"Sirius, calm down! Harry and I talked..." Remus's attempt to explain was cut off.

"Does nothing I say count for anything anymore? The one thing I didn't want..."

Harry had had enough. "Should I just leave?" he yelled.

The two men fell silent, and Sirius reached past Remus to pull Harry into his arms. "No, of course not." Harry returned the hug. "You're the one I've been wanting to see more than anybody. Just...not here..." His voice cracked, and Harry felt his shoulders shake. He kept his arms around Sirius for another moment until Sirius had collected himself, and then looked him in the face and shrugged.

"I wanted to see you. I don't care if it's in Azkaban." Harry said.

Sirius nodded, then gestured towards the ledge. "Allow me to extend the hospitality of my suite." He drew Harry to sit beside him on the ledge, while Remus took a seat on the floor. Sirius gave him a look. "So, you're allowing my godson to run roughshod over you, Remus?"

Remus grinned. "He's your godson, Sirius. I doubt you could have stood against him as long as I did."

Their laughter was rather forced. Harry smiled, but couldn't keep his lips from quivering. He dropped his gaze and felt Sirius's arm tighten around his shoulders.

There was a moment of awkward silence, and then Remus spoke up. "Murdo has the prosecution's witness list."

Sirius took a deep breath, and said matter-of-factly, "Who's on it?"

"Dawlish," Remus replied. Sirius snorted. "Jameson, Eccleston, and Snetterton, " Remus continued.

"Snetterton? Thought he was dead," Sirius commented.

"I wish," Harry muttered.

Next to him, Sirius chuckled. "Old Snetty's all right."

"Then why is he testifying against you?" grumbled Harry.

"Because he's a witness," Sirius answered.

Remus said, "Look on the bright side. At least Bartemius Crouch isn't testifying."

"Bloody lucky there," Sirius agreed. "I'd rather take my chances with Fudge."

Remus leaned back against the wall. "And for defense, we have Minerva..." Sirius nodded, "myself, of course, and..." Remus paused, and shot a grin at Harry, " Severus Snape."

"Uhhhhgh!" Sirius buried his face in his hands.

"Oh Sirius, stop it." said Remus. "He's one of our star witnesses!"

Sirius groaned louder and began rocking back and forth. "I'm doomed...DOOMED!" Harry burst out laughing.

"And then ...Harry." Remus tried to slip it in.

Sirius's laughter stopped. He looked sideways at Harry and then at Remus again.

"Of course I'm testifying!" Harry said.

Sirius looked at the floor. "I don't like it."

Harry watched him. "Why not?"

Sirius was quiet for a moment, and then said carefully, "I know what kind of case Fudge is going to make. It'll be like last year, only worse. He has to convince the jury that you were wrong about Wormtail."

Harry shrugged. "So, he'll try to convince them I'm crazy again. It didn't work before."

Remus shook his head. "This will be direct questioning, Harry. Everything you've seen, everything Sirius has done. He'll try to convince you that you're crazy."

In the silence that followed, a knock sounded on the door. "Time!"

As they rose from the ledge, Sirius kept an arm around Harry. "I don't care what Fudge says," Harry told him. "You're innocent, and I'll make them believe it."

"Sure," said Sirius. Harry stepped aside so that Remus could say goodbye. The door swung open, and as they stepped through, Harry heard Sirius say quietly behind them, "Take care of him, Remus."

RITA SKEETER EXCLUSIVE: BOY WHO LIVED VISITS SIRIUS BLACK IN AZKABAN!
BLACK'S TRIAL TO BEGIN AT MINISTRY TODAY!

The Daily Prophet has confirmed that Harry Potter was permitted to travel to Azkaban on Sunday to visit Sirius Black, whom Potter strongly insists is innocent of his parents' murder. Potter was accompanied by Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Remus Lupin to visit Black, who sources now confirm is in fact Potter's godfather.

No reporters have been permitted into Azkaban itself, so there is no way to determine what passed between the Boy Who Lived and Black. But it cannot be denied that young Harry has been in a state of constant distress since his godfather's arrest a week ago.

In spite of Potter's powerful defenses of Black, the Minister of Magic maintains that the Boy Who Lived is merely another of Black's victims, possibly Confunded so that Black might nefariously work his way into the boy's affections. Minister Fudge has vowed to prove Black's guilt at the upcoming trial, declaring that even celebrity endorsements cannot alter the truth.

The Daily Prophet has an unconfirmed report that Harry Potter will be among the witnesses testifying in Black's defense over the next few days. This list is also alleged to include such notable individuals as newly-confirmed Hogwarts Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, former Auror Alastor Moody, Auror Nymphadora Tonks, and respected Ministry employee Arthur Weasley.

The Prophet will be releasing regular reports on the progress of the trial, which will be simultaneously broadcast via the Wizarding Wireless Network as a Prophet News Special.

The newspaper actually rattled in Harry's hands. He tossed it away and folded his arms on the table, resting his chin on them so no one could see how badly they were trembling.

"Harry, you've got to eat," Hermione whispered in his ear. On his other side, Ron silently patted his back. "You'll never get through this if you don't."

"I'll be sick if I do," Harry mumbled. Really, it was rather hypocritical on their part; neither of them were exactly cleaning their plates!

Bastet had been making more progress with Ginny's breakfast than Ginny herself. Harry found himself watching her, wishing he could be like her: all instincts, just taking treats and getting petted and sitting in people's laps, never having to worry about the end of the world. She seemed to have stopped growing, but she was still very small, and still managed to get up on Ginny's shoulder now and then.

Almost as if she sensed Harry's thoughts, she turned, blinking her amber eyes at him, then crawled across Ron's lap to settle on Harry's own, peering up at him with pricked ears. Harry pulled one hand out from under his chin to pet her, and she chirped at him. His tremors decreased a little, and he sighed.

"What's this, Potter? I don't believe familiars are permitted in the Great Hall during meals." They glanced up to see Snape looming behind Harry's shoulder, glaring down at the cat in Harry's lap.

"She's mine, sir," said Ginny, and clicked her tongue to summon Bastet back. "I'll take her upstairs."

Snape sneered at her. "Don't let it occur again, Miss Weasley. Five points from Gryffindor—and it will be ten if Potter doesn't straighten up at this table."

Harry bristled and sat up in his seat as Snape gestured imperiously at him to get his elbows off the table—but something landed in his lap where Bastet had been. Frowning, he picked it up. It was a small bottle of potion...Anti-Nausea Potion, specifically.

Beside Harry, Ron stared. "He scares me sometimes."

Hermione surreptitiously took the bottle from Harry, sniffed around the cap, and handed it back. "Anti-Nausea Potion, nothing else. You should take it. It'll make today easier to get through, AND easier to eat. You can't go to the trial on an empty stomach—"

"All right, all right!" Harry exclaimed, cutting off her lecturing.

"This way," Mr. Weasley said as he escorted Harry, Ron, and Hermione down to the lower levels of the Ministry. "Courtroom One. You'll be in a section for the witnesses, away from the casual observers."

"And the press, I hope," muttered Ginny.

"Them too," Mr. Weasley assured them, patting her shoulder. "Your Mum and the rest of the boys are already inside."

"Is..." Harry glanced around. The corridor was much busier than the last time he had been here. People were milling all around, talking excitedly. He lowered his voice. "Is Sirius there yet?"

Mr. Weasley shook his head. "They'll bring him in when the trial starts." He smiled reassuringly at Harry. "But he's in the Ministry; I saw him this morning. He's all right."

Harry wasn't the only one who let out a long breath at that.

As they approached the doors of the largest courtroom in the Ministry, a herd of reporters began stampeding back and forth along a rope line, snapping pictures and shouting to everyone going in.

"Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter!"

"Harry, are you expecting the Wizengamot to take your word?"

"Mr. Weasley, what will you be testifying about?"

"Miss Granger, did you believe the Muggle press about Sirius Black?"

"Mr. Weasley!"

"Miss Weasley, are you dating Harry Potter?"

"Mr. Potter!"

"Mr. Weasley!"

"Miss Granger, a word? Just a word?"

They were all very relieved to be ushered into the room and hear the doors thump closed behind them. Harry gritted his teeth, but Hermione's hand on his arm forestalled calling the press nasty names. He followed her gaze to Rita Skeeter, standing in a small, cordoned-off section of the courtroom among a few other cameras and wizard microphones. She gave him a smug wink, and he forced a smile, then turned his head quickly as if distracted when he saw Rita's photographer taking aim.

"Can we wait till after to give her a statement?" muttered Ron at them.

"I think so. Maybe we can slip her a note so she'll stay calm," Hermione replied, with a slight shake of her head. Indeed, Rita did seem a bit agitated.

Then again, Harry was as well. Although the potion from Snape had taken care of his nausea, his anxiety had only grown worse on the trip from Hogwarts to the Ministry. His hands were shaking and sweaty, and he felt cold and shivery all over. Ron and Hermione steered him to their seats, close to the front of the still-half-empty courtroom, and Hermione and Ginny sat very close on either side of him. He couldn't stop staring around the room.

It was much larger than Courtroom Ten, where Harry's disciplinary hearing had been held the summer before his fifth year. But the walls were the same dark stone, and the room full of the same high benches.

There was no one in the front seats for the Wizengamot yet, but a few witches and wizards were already scurrying into the open seats and pointing and whispering when they saw Harry. Some uniformed Aurors were milling around on the courtroom floor, and when one of them moved, Harry spotted the prisoner's chair with the chains.

The chains that would hold Sirius when he came in. Sirius would be facing Harry.

Harry's heart did a back flip, and Hermione and Ginny each grabbed one of his hands. "It'll be okay," Ginny whispered in his ear. "It'll be okay." From behind them, Mrs. Weasley and Professor Lupin each reached down to squeeze Harry's shoulders.

Murdo McGonagall came in a few minutes later, wearing impressive robes with some medals and ribbons on them that obviously meant something, and overall looking very imposing. He also did not look terribly worried, which made Harry feel a little better. Professor McGonagall came in a few minutes later, and Harry and his friends all leaned forward. She paused beside her husband, and he said something to her, then she came up past Harry and his friends to join the other professors from Hogwarts, murmuring, "Good morning," as she passed.

Harry wished he knew what she was thinking.

The half hour from the time they arrived in the courtroom until noon, when the trial was set to start, seemed to last for ten eternities. Harry alternated between sitting stock-still in an effort to control his inner and outer trembling to fidgeting restlessly and shifting about in his seat from nervous energy. Either way, he thought he would scream in frustration already, and the trial hadn't even begun yet.

All the witnesses who would be testifying for Sirius were there now: Remus, Professor McGonagall, and Snape, Harry and his friends, and the Aurors from the Order. Harry missed Dumbledore now more than ever. On his right, Hermione was whispering to Ron, Tonks, and Moody about what they knew about the new wizard who'd replaced Dumbledore on the Wizengamot, and on his left, Ginny was leaning back to talk to her parents in the row behind them. Beyond Ginny, the remaining Weasley boys were muttering amongst themselves.

Harry sighed inwardly. He missed Percy too. If Percy were here right now, he'd no doubt be able to explain everything that was going on to Harry. Or had Percy's name never been cleared either? He'd have to find out. Percy shouldn't have died a fugitive.

Like Sirius...

Harry shuddered, and Ginny turned back to him and squeezed his arm.

By the time the hands on the large clock above the Wizengamot bench were approaching twelve, all the seats were full, and even Hermione was biting her nails.

On the first toll of the bell, Harry's breath choked off in his throat, and more than a few people froze as the hour rang out. High noon. His mind vaguely reminded him of Muggle books where the battles always took place at noon when the sun was highest. In the wizarding world, from what he remembered of History of Magic, they always took place at midnight.

When the last toll of the bell died away, the doors above the Wizengamot's bench opened, and the plum-robed wizards and witches filed in, taking their places above the rest of the courtroom. From his seat among the witnesses, Harry could see them better than when he had come for his hearing. The courtroom was deathly silent, everyone watching and waiting as the members of the Wizengamot settled themselves. Harry was briefly thankful he'd been late for his own hearing; he half-wished he'd been late for this one.

In the central seat of the front row was the square-jawed witch with the monocle that Harry recognized as Amelia Bones. He didn't see Cornelius Fudge anywhere, and heard Hermione whisper, "Madam Bones is presiding over the trial. At least we know she's fair."

Madam Bones stood up, looking as forbidding as she had the last time Harry had seen her, and ordered, "Bring in the jury."

A door opened above the benches on the right of the courtroom, and twelve witches and wizards in black robes filed into view. They settled themselves and nodded to her. She nodded back and said to the Aurors, "Bring in the accused."

Harry felt Ginny's fingers dig into his arm as a door in the corner of the courtroom opened. There was a collective intake of breath when Sirius Black came into view, flanked by no less than four Aurors. Harry was one of the only people who didn't gasp—because he was holding his breath.

Sirius met his eyes almost immediately and held them, which was a good thing because when he saw the heavy ropes binding his godfather's wrists, Harry thought he might pass out. He could feel Ron and Hermione's eyes on him, but couldn't tear his gaze away from Sirius. The Aurors marched him over to the heavy chair in the center of the floor, and Sirius never took his eyes off Harry, even when the chains sprang up and bound him. The courtroom was rippling with whispers, but Harry was oblivious to them.

He wanted to smile at Sirius. Let him know it would be okay. Let him know Harry would stand up for him.

But he couldn't. He was frozen, unable to move a muscle. All he could do was watch; his mind felt numb and paralyzed. Helpless.

Then Madam Bones announced, "Head counsel of the Prosecution, Minister Cornelius Fudge," and Fudge appeared, wearing his Wizengamot robes and a distinct air of self-importance.

The Minister took a box seat just below the Wizengamot benches, facing the jury. When Madam Bones nodded to him, he turned around.

"The accused, Sirius Orion Black, answers today for the charges of premeditated murder." Harry's insides clenched. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: As you all know, willful murder carries the penalty of life imprisonment in Azkaban. And flight from Ministry justice under any circumstance exacts a mandatory Dementor's kiss."

There was a collective gasp. Harry flinched and dropped his eyes, and flashbulbs went off from the press section next to the jury. "Fat chance of finding a Dementor to do it," Ron muttered at him, trying to sound reassuring but sounding in fact like he wanted to throw something at Fudge.

"The crime for which the accused shall at last be held accountable," Fudge went on as Harry gritted his teeth, "is the most treacherous and foul act of depravity that can be imagined: the cold-blooded betrayal of an innocent family by the one entrusted with their safety. The delivery of a brave and good man and woman by their Secret Keeper to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, resulting in their death, and the slaughter of their dearest friend."

Harry's heart was beginning to hammer. Ginny's fingernails were digging into his skin. But Fudge was not done. "You will hear how the accused used the trust and friendship of James and Lily Potter, a fine, upstanding young couple, to spy upon the enemies of You-Know-Who, and when they took the accused as their Secret Keeper, he betrayed them, resulting in their brutal murder at the Dark Lord's own hands. You will also hear how for the past three years, the accused has once again insinuated himself into the good graces of decent wizards, even to the point of deceiving his way into the affections of his victims' only son."

Harry stiffened; the courtroom erupted into chatter, and the warlock on the left of Amelia Bones had to bang his gavel repeatedly to quiet everyone down.

"Why doesn't Mr. McGonagall say something?" Ron hissed.

"It's opening statements," Hermione whispered, leaning across Ron to pat Harry's knee. "It's Fudge's turn now because he's the Prosecutor. Mr. McGonagall is next, don't worry."

Harry nodded, tearing his eyes away from Sirius to scan the room. Behind him, Professor McGonagall was muttering to Professor Snape, both of them wearing grave expressions. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were talking quietly to Remus, who looked as haggard as if the full moon were tomorrow. Tonks was on the floor of the courtroom talking to Sirius under his guards' watchful eyes. The reporters were scribbling away like mad.

Then Madam Bones called, "Counsel for the accused, Murdo McGonagall."

Harry took a deep breath. It had begun.

To be continued...

Coming Next Weekend: The members of the Order of the Phoenix take the stand to protect one of their own, but Cornelius Fudge is determined to save his political career with a conviction. As the wizarding world eagerly awaits the testimony of the Boy Who Lived, Harry and the Order begin working on a bold plan to prove Sirius innocent once and for all by capturing Peter Pettigrew in Chapter Forty-Two: The Trial of Sirius Black, Part II!

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