"Wow kiddo, these pancakes are great. So what is on the agenda for today?" Sirius asked.
Just as Raven was about to answer, Hedwig flew in the window and landed on the table next to him. Raven reached over and scratched Hedwig behind her ears then took the letter from her and gave her a few strips of bacon. Opening the letter, he read it aloud.
Dear Mr. Potter,
I would be happy to meet you and your father at Gringotts. I will be bringing with me Kingsley Shacklebolt. We will question your father under Veritaserum. Once the questioning is done we will hold a trial. We will meet you at 10 am.
Sincerely,
Amelia Bones
Director Department of Law Enforcement
"To answer your earlier question I need to get some new clothes. Why don't we go shopping then meet Madam Bones at Gringotts." Replied Raven.
"Sounds good. Grab your chest while you go get ready. We may need what's in it today." Sirius said while clearing the table. "I'll set the dishes to wash then go get ready myself."
When they finally got to Gringotts after picking up a complete new wardrobe for Raven and some new things for Sirius, Madam Bones was waiting for them with Kingsley Shacklebolt. Griphook came over and showed them into a conference room.
"Kingsley, please wait here outside the door. Make sure we are not disturbed." Said Madam Bones
"Yes, Madam Bones" Replied Kingsley.
"Mr. Black, if we can begin please?" replied Madam Bones.
"Sure Madam Bones. After we get done could we talk to you about some thing?" asked Sirius as he moved the chair he was sitting in over in front of the couch and sat down.
"Of course, I will put three drops of Veritaserum on your tongue. Once it takes affect I will ask you questions about being the Potter's secret keeper as well as what happened when you confronted Pettigrew. Anything you say will be recorded. Is that ok?" asked Madam Bones as she set up the recording quill.
"Yes, but I reserve the right to have Harry stop me from saying certain things that if they get out could be dangerous for Harry or for me, OK?"
"Ok, as long as you will tell me the truth off the record. Fair enough?" Madam Bones replied.
"Fair enough, let's do this." Sirius said.
With that Sirius opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out. Madam Bones let three drops of Veritaserum fall on his tongue. She waited until she saw Sirius' glaze over before she asked her questions.
"What is your full name?"
"Sirius Orion Black"
"Were you the secret keeper for James and Lily Potter?"
"No I was not."
"Who was?"
"Peter Pettigrew was the secret keeper."
"What happened the day that James and Lily Potter died?"
"I went to visit Jasmine Evans. I spent part of the day with her talking. Then I went to check on Peter. I was to be the decoy for Voldemort. I had a feeling something was wrong so I went to check on Peter. I went to the usual places but he was not around. I finally went to his house and the door was unlocked and he was gone. There were no signs of struggle. I raced to James and Lily's house and found it in ruins. Hagrid was there and he had Harry in his arms. I asked Hagrid to give me Harry. He told me no that he had orders from Dumbledore to take Harry to him. I gave Hagrid my bike and went to look for Peter. I finally found him the next day. When he saw me he yelled "Sirius how could you betray James like that." He then cast a laughing charm on me and cut his finger off. Then he blew up the street and changed into his animangus form of a rat and went into the sewer. That's when Fudge and Crouch showed up. They placed me under arrest and took me straight to Azkaban."
"Do you know where Pettigrew is now?"
"Yes, he is posing as a family pet of the Weasley family. The Daily Prophet said they won a trip to Egypt."
"How did you escape from Azkaban?"
With this question Raven said "No. Do not answer that Sirius." Putting a silencing charm on Sirius until the Veritaserum wore off.
Raven turned to Madam Bones and said to her "I apologize Madam Bones. But this is what has to be off the record. Sirius used to be an unspeakable and if he is to return, his animangus form will be useful only if no one else knows about it. We have no problem with you personally knowing but not as part of the official record."
Sirius, having come out of the Veritaserum haze, walked over to his son and tapped him on the shoulder pointing to his throat.
"Oh, sorry Dad. Finite Incantatem." Said Raven with a sheepish grin on his face.
"No problem son. Madam Bones, are you convinced of my innocence?" Asked Sirius.
A shocked Amelia replied, "Huh? Oh yes Mr. Black I believe you are innocent. Now will you please explain how you escaped?"
"Just a minute Amelia let me have Harry open the chest that has the proof you will need about a few things. Son, open your chest with the password 'I solemnly swear that Padfoot is a prat'" Sirius said. "As for how I escaped, I am a grim animangus. I was able to slip out when the Dementor's brought my food."
"I can understand why you want to keep this quiet." Amelia said.
"Ok Dad. It's open. What do you want me to get from here?" Raven asked.
"Look for your birth certificate. The adoption papers should also be there."
"Here they are Dad."
"Thanks son. Amelia if you would please look at these papers."
Birth Certificate
Raven James Evans Black
Born: July 31, 1980 11:58 PM
San Francisco, California
Mother: Jasmine Rose Evans
Father: Sirius Orion Black
Adoption Papers For Raven James Evans Potter Black
Adopted name: Harry James Evans Potter
Born: July 31, 1980
San Francisco, California
Adopted Father: James Charlus Potter
Adopted Mother: Lily Rose Evans
Adopted by Mr. Potter using the Fraternis Adoptis Potion.
Adopted by Mrs. Potter using legal adoption papers.
While Amelia is looking at the birth certificate and adoption papers Raven was looking through the chest and found a letter addressed to him.
Dearest Raven,
If you are reading this letter it means that I was not able to return to retrieve the letters and diary. If I am dead you will be listening to my will. If Griphook has told you that my will can still sense my magic then I fear that Headmaster Dumbledore has done something to keep me away from you. One of Dumbledore's favorite spells is the Obliviate.
The mission I was to go on had nothing to do with the Department of Mysteries. I had taken a leave of absence from October 30, 1981 until November 14, 1981. Dumbledore had me looking into who the spy in the order was. I was to meet with Dumbledore on October 31st 1981 at 7pm. If I did not make it home it is because Dumbledore has stopped me. He wants to control the wizarding world. He wants people to love him and follow him like he is Merlin or something. He does not care what he has to do or whom he has to use to get his way. DO NOT TRUST HIM!
There is a ritual that you and your father can do to find me. It will take your blood and something of mine, something personal. Your father will be able to find something that will do the trick. The ritual is in the letter addressed to your father. I love you with all my heart Raven.
Love,
Mum
While Amelia and Sirius were talking about James and Lily's will and about everything else, Raven was reading his mother's letter. He started crying. When Sirius heard him sniffling he got up and went over to Raven and put his hand on his shoulder, "What's wrong son?" Raven just handed his father the letter. When Sirius got done reading the letter you could just about see steam coming out of his ears, that's how angry he was. He didn't say a word. He just handed the letter to Amelia then turned back to Raven and asked softly, "Where is the letter addressed to me son?"
"Huh? Oh sorry Dad, it's right here," said Raven as he pulled the second letter out of the diary. Sirius took the letter from Raven then pulled him into a hug and just held him for a few minutes. "We will find your Mum. She promised me a chance for us to be together. When I was a kid I was too full of myself. I thought I was irresistible; I was immature and didn't want to settle down. I told your mother that I loved her before she went on her mission. I asked her for a chance to prove to her I was ready to settle down. She told me she would give me that chance. I want her back kiddo and will do anything to get her back with us where she belongs."
"Thanks Dad, I'm glad we are together right now. I know together we will find Mum." Raven said pulling back from his father and turning to Amelia.
Unbeknownst to Albus Dumbledore all his scheming to keep Harry Potter under his thumb has come to a crashing halt. He has been trying to get Ron Weasley and his family to spy on Harry and keep Harry from learning anything of consequence. So far he has not had any luck. He will just have to take his time with the Weasley family. Now Hermione is another story. She wants to take all the electives that Hogwarts offers. Hmmm, maybe if we get her a time turner she will spy on Harry for me and help me keep him in line. Yes I think I'll do that. I think I'll call Minerva in here and let her know I have a time turner for Hermione. Albus went to the fireplace to call Minerva to his office. He lit a fire in the fireplace and put a handful of floo powder in and called "Minerva McGonagall's Office". Once it connected he called "Minerva will you come to my office please?"
Minerva said, "Yes Albus I'll be right there."
Jennifer and Sabrina were about to sit down to breakfast when an owl flew through the window and dropped an envelope in front of Sabrina.
She picked it up and opened it.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRYHeadmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme
Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Jefferson,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Raven asks, "So what happens now Madam Bones? How can we find my mother and keep the Headmaster from trying to run my life?"
"Well Raven, we have a few options. First off we need to get Mr. Pettigrew and put him on trial. Next what do you want to do about Harry Potter? Do you want to "kill" him off or just tell the truth?" said Amelia.
"Well Madam Bones, I would like to use my current name, Raven James Evans Potter Black. This way I can honor both sets of parents, my birth parents and my adopted parents."
"Ok in that case let me get back to my office so that we can get your father cleared officially. Sirius do you want to get your job back?"
Sirius looked over at Raven and held his gaze for a minute then turned to Amelia and said "Not just yet. I would like to spend some time to get to know my son and see if we can't find Jasmine first. We have enough money so that I don't need to work right away."
"Fair enough. What compensation would you like for being wrongly imprisoned for 12 years? I think you can get just about anything." Said Amelia.
"I don't know yet. How about a favor to be called in later?" Sirius said.
"I'll see what I can do. Sirius until we can get you officially cleared you should stay out of sight. Good day gentlemen." With that said Amelia left Griphook's office.
Sorry for the delay. All the bad weather we have been having knocked out our Internet. Please review :)