Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.


Chapter 39 – The Servant of Lord Voldemort


Thanks to Sirius, little changed in Harry's daily life in the following months. When Christmas break started not two weeks after Sirius was vindicated it was Cornelius and Aldora who greeted him at Platform 9 ¾, and it was to his room at the Fudge manor that he returned to. That wasn't to say that Sirius disappeared from Harry's life again. True to his word Sirius made sure that Harry knew he was there if he needed him, but he had gotten the hint that any relationship between them needed to be formed at Harry's pace. The two began to write each other at least twice a week, and over the Christmas holidays Harry saw Sirius no fewer than six times. The first was at the Ministry's annual Christmas Ball where Sirius was treated like a guest of honour as everyone clamored to speak with the ex-con, many assuring him they had known he was innocent all along. The second time had been Christmas Day when much to Harry's surprise Sirius turned up to Christmas dinner. Aldora had invited him, Harry's godfather having endeared himself to her when he'd given up his legal right as Harry's guardian. Any reservations Aldora had had about him, even after he was declared innocent, disappeared in that moment and she took it upon herself to try and bring Sirius and Harry closer together, determined as she was that Sirius' kindness would not be forgotten and he would not be pushed out of Harry's life. He was a frequent dinner guest thereafter, and Harry swore one of the best nights of his life had been when Aldora had included Sirius in a dinner with the Malfoys.

Narcissa Malfoy had been born a Black, the first cousin of Sirius, and the two had grown up playing together, as cousins did, but had been estranged ever since Sirius ran away from home and his mother cast him off the family tree, Sirius told them with much pride. It became obvious very quickly that not only did their views on pureblood supremacy differ, but that Sirius was well aware that Lucius had not been under any Imperius curse, but was genuinely a Death Eater. He took great delight in poking fun at Lucius, and Harry had a front row seat to a Marauder at work, for while the Malfoys clearly understood his jabs, neither of the Fudges even bat an eye, so they were forced to sit there and take it.

Harry's favourite moment, though, came when Sirius turned his sights on Draco. He'd left the boy alone in the beginning, telling Harry later that given who his family was he would be the last one to judge a person by their parents, but Draco's hatred of Harry had shined through and all it took was one insult to his godson to have him on the offense. He had promised, with great dramatics, to not cut Draco out of the Black family will now that he was no longer the heir. The Black family was a patriarchal line, and Sirius' father had been head of the family, which made Sirius the next in line, given he was older than his brother Regulus by a few years. While his mother had burned away his spot on the family tree at hung in his childhood home, she'd been unable to cast him out of the family, the ancient Black Family magic recognizing him as an heir, so her actions had been merely symbolic. The previous head of the family, Sirius' father, Orion Black, could, and did, leave everything to Regulus, the prodigal son, as he had been another male of the Black bloodline to inherit. However, as Sirius was the only other male in the family at the time – Narcissa only had two sisters – the family magic would not allow him to be disinherited entirely. When Regulus, a Death Eater, had died in the first war, and Orion had shortly followed, Sirius had become head of the family. Draco was the next male of the Black bloodline to be born, and upon Sirius' conviction had become the heir to the Black family, only able to ascend as head of the family when he turned seventeen. With Sirius' pardon, he was reinstated as head of the family and Draco was pushed down the ladder, behind any sons Sirius might have. All of this was only legally speaking, of course. Given Sirius had never actually been convicted, which none of the Malfoys had known at the time, he had remained head of the family all these years by the laws that governed the ancient family magic. Had Sirius never escaped Azkaban and remained an un-convicted prisoner, Draco would have had a nasty surprise on his seventeenth birthday when the Black family magic did not settle on him as head of the family. Of course, no one mentioned this, directly at least, Sirius certainly alluded to it, and Harry took great delight in Draco's sour look.

-H/G-

The rest of the holidays passed quickly and Harry returned to Hogwarts without fear this time around. He and Sirius continued to owl each other frequently, Harry learning in early January that after Sirius had recovered some, especially his body regaining the weight and strength it had lost in Azkaban, he'd rejoined the auror corps. His first action after being reinstated, and with the full support of Madam Bones and the Minister himself, was to make sure that no one else had fallen through the cracks like he had and that every inmate in Azkaban actually deserved to be there. Thankfully they all did, and Sirius rested easier knowing that the legal body he worked for had only made the one screw up with him. It had been a colossal screw up, to be sure, one he would never forget, nor allow anyone else to forget, but at least it was only the one. Sirius and Harry continued their correspondence with each other and there were a few times that Harry went to visit Remus in his office and found Sirius there as well; the two old friends had much to catch up on as well. The first time all three of them had been together Remus and Harry filled in the blanks for Sirius of everything that happened after his escape. Unsurprisingly, one of his first questions had been why Harry had stopped him from revealing he was an animagus, to which Harry replied that he wasn't entirely sure. Dumbledore had been the one to first keep the secret, and the only explanation he'd given was that he didn't think it necessary to take that from Sirius as well, even if it meant keeping how he'd really escaped Azkaban a secret as well, Sirius having slipped through the bars in his dog form. In either case, Sirius wasn't going to complain as it gave them an advantage in the coming war; another thing they had explained early on being that Voldemort wasn't really gone. Sirius understandably hadn't taken that well, though ultimately he hadn't been too surprised. The heavy talk soon turned lighter though as Sirius turned his sights on Harry's relationship with Ginny. He hadn't gotten to tease his godson over the Christmas break as they'd only seen each other in public or with the Fudges present, but with just Remus there now he pulled no punches. The Defence professor got in on it too, both making Harry blush and promptly end their meeting.

Training with Snape resumed in January, and it was the first time that Harry had privately seen the potions master since the shouting match in the hospital wing a month ago. Snape was his usual cantankerous self, pushing the four of them as hard as always, but there seemed to be a little less bite in his bark, which Harry determined not to comment on, though Snape determined it best to.

"Potter, a word." He held Harry back after training. Ron, Hermione and Ginny looked to him worriedly, wondering what he could have done to earn Snape's ire so soon into the term, but Harry merely shrugged and told them he'd meet them in the common room. He waited then for Snape to speak, which took more than a few seconds, and the professor could not even turn to face him. "I do not know what Black has been telling you about me-"

"Nothing." Harry winced as Snape whirled around and glared at him for interrupting, but he ploughed on. "I mean, he hasn't said anything, sir. We haven't talked about you at all." Snape raised an eyebrow, staring Harry down as if to see if he was lying, and though Harry knew Snape could have easily slipped into his mind to determine the truth, he didn't feel any of the telltale signs of legilimency. Snape's gaze bore into Harry for a moment more before he did something very un-Snape like: he sighed and slumped against a desk.

"Your mother and I were friends." Harry could barely make out the muttered words. "Since childhood, even before Hogwarts…she was my best friend. Your father, as you know, was a bully, and when he took a fancy to Lily, he and his little gang bullied me more than anyone. He didn't like how close Lily and I were, and he succeeded in tearing our friendship apart…though admittedly I had no small part in that too. Since I lost her friendship, not one person has stood up for me without wanting something in return. Until you. And you defended me to Black, of all people."

"Sir…" This was getting awkward. Snape was practically talking about his feelings. Snape. The dreaded dungeon bat, the most feared professor in the school. If they hadn't just finished their training, meaning that Harry knew this was indeed Snape, then he would wonder if the Weasley twins were pranking him. His interruption of Snape, though, brought the sharp look back into the potion master's eyes.

"Suffice it to say that your defence reminded me that you are not just Potter's son, but Lily's as well. That is something I had forgotten, and something I cannot forget again." The sharp look receded again, and for a moment Harry knew Snape was years in the past, and he knew he wasn't meant to hear Snape's next words: "I failed you, Lily. But I will not fail your son." Snape turned then and looked Harry in the eyes, his words once again meant for him. "Thank you, Mr. Potter." Many things could be said of Snape, but one thing Harry knew with certainty that could not be said was that he was a coward. Harry didn't know exactly what it had cost Snape to say all this, to say thank you, but it was clearly very personal and very difficult for him to do so; Harry doubted if he would ever know the reasons Snape had for divulging all that he had. But somehow, even through the awkwardness and Snape being as un-Snape like as he could be, Harry had a feeling that there was a new understanding between them.

"Sir." Harry said simply with a nod of his head. After all, this was still Snape, and even though it was as if someone else had taken over his body for the last couple minutes, Harry couldn't forget that. His acknowledgement broke the spell, or whatever this had been, and the Snape of the last couple minutes was gone.

"Oh, and Mr. Potter, it goes without saying that this conversation never happened." There was a thinly veiled threat in his words, something Harry was used to in his professor's tone, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as it meant Snape was back to his usual else.

"Of course, sir." He said before fleeing the room.

Harry, of course, told Ginny, Ron and Hermione everything, but he couldn't be sure if they even believed him. Hell, he couldn't quite believe it himself and he had lived it. In the following days Snape gave no sign that anything had happened and Harry was more than happy to follow his lead. Days turned into weeks, and then months, and like last year Harry and his friends were struck by how different the first and second halves of the year were. Something seemed to happen each year. The Philosopher's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, an escaped mass murderer, all things that no school aged children, or teenagers, as they were quickly becoming, should have to deal with, and yet they had. Luckily the last two years had resolved themselves by Christmas leaving them able to complete the school year normally, but it leant the question: what would happen next year?

However, before their thoughts could turn to their fourth year – third year in Ginny's case – there was one thing from the adventures of this year that they still had to deal with: Peter Pettigrew's trial. Sirius' lack of a trial meant that he couldn't allow anyone, even someone they knew to be guilty, to go to Azkaban without one, no matter how much he wanted to just kill the rat and be done with it. And so, the trial was planned for two weeks into the summer break, those making the arrangements knowing that children would have to testify, and refusing to interrupt their education. And so, Harry found himself seated in Courtroom One alongside Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Fred and George. Aldora sat next to him with a death grip on his hand, while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat five seats away, the children squeezed in between the adults, with McGonagall seated directly behind, keeping a watchful eye on them. As minors it was required that their legal guardian be present. Cornelius being a member of the Wizengamot meant that he could not also serve as a witness' guardian so Aldora had to be present, while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were of course here for their brood. For Hermione it was a bit more complicated. Given her parents were muggles, they had no real legal status in the wizarding world, nor could they even enter the Ministry, so could not be here for their daughter, and so McGonagall stood in their stead. Sometime after the founding of Hogwarts, no one knew exactly when, it had become the practice for Heads of House to act as guardians for their muggleborn students when needed, though it wasn't until the 18th century that it became the legal practice, with muggle parents signing a form agreeing that the Head of House can act as guardian to their children if needed. It was almost never necessary though. The school still had parents do things like signing school forms and respected their wishes on matters concerning their children's education. It was only if those children got involved in something that included the Ministry, St. Mungos, or, Merlin forbid, Gringotts, that the Heads of House actually had to step in.

Hermione was actually glad that her Head of House was here. She had been warned that the defence would likely try to attack her for being a muggleborn, questioning her ability to even be a witness when, aside from school, she spent very little time in the wizarding world. Hermione thought that was a load of crap, and it was, but the sad fact was that many members of the wizengamot, those from the old pureblood families, would likely agree with the defence given their prejudice against muggleborns. Hermione was quite nervous because of this, but she knew that for all McGonagall's strictness and lack of coddling her students, she would do almost anything to protect one of her cubs. While they couldn't stop the defence bringing up her being muggleborn, McGonagall would be quick to shut down any true attack, and as one of the few Hogwarts teachers to have taught most of the people present, her glare was still quite effective.

The courtroom was abuzz with chatter as everyone waited for the trial to be called to order. Harry looked to his right and saw that Sirius, in his formal scarlet auror robes, was standing next to stands that held the Wizengamot, glaring at the door. Finally, Dumbledore, in his position as Chief Warlock, called the room to order.

"Bring in the accused." The double doors opened, and the room turned as one to watch Pettigrew be dragged in. Only no one appeared. As the seconds ticked by the room grew antsy. Sirius cursed, and along with the other aurors, ran from the room. Harry looked towards the Wizengamot and saw shock and worry on almost all of their faces. He sought out Malfoy's face and it was then that he knew Pettigrew had escaped. Lucius was doing a good job of looking worried to those around him, but there was a distinct lack of fear or surprise in his eyes. Harry looked around and saw the same lack of proper emotion in Nott's and Parkinson's eyes, two others, who along with Malfoy, had gotten off when Voldemort fell by claiming to have been under the Imperius curse. There were others – Crabbe, Goyle, Yaxley and Avery, to name a few – that had also claimed the Imperius, but they merely looked relived, telling Harry that Malfoy, Parkinson and Nott hadn't included their compatriots in their plan. If there was any doubt as to their guilt it disappeared when Lucius met Harry's eyes, his lip curling up in a smirk. After their altercation when Harry freed Dobby, Malfoy had stopped trying to hide his true allegiance, at least to Harry. He still had a part to play in public though, and Harry had no proof that Lucius had willingly been a Death Eater, so there was little either of them could do, including now. Harry didn't doubt that there would be no proof in Pettigrew's escape pointing to Malfoy, or any of the others. He was proven right not a moment later.

"What is the meaning of this?" Cornelius demanded as Sirius, who looked ready to breathe fire hotter than any dragon, and Kingsley, looking much calmer, marched a young new auror recruit into the room.

"He's gone." Sirius hissed. "This idiot cancelled the wards that stopped Pettigrew from transforming. He's probably down in the sewers with the other rats by now."

"I didn't, I swear!" The recruit, who couldn't be older than nineteen or twenty, sobbed.

"Your wand confirms it!" Sirius snapped angrily.

"Sirius." Harry found himself speaking up. "I know you're angry. I am too, but I doubt it's his fault. Someone else probably framed him."

"That is a serious accusation, Mr. Potter. What proof do you have?" Lucius couldn't help but try and needle Harry.

"None." He shot Malfoy a glare. "But we know that not all the Death Eaters were caught after the war, and one of their own was about to testify." Sirius cursed again.

"Of course they couldn't have that. He'd rat them out in a heartbeat."

"Still a very serious accusation, Auror Black."

"You of all people should know how dangerous Voldemort's followers are, Malfoy. Afterall, they kept you under the Imperius for…how many years again?" Sirius' glare was about as effective on Malfoy as Harry's had been, but his words had at least shut him up.

"Regardless, Auror Black, the fact remains that Pettigrew escaped." Cornelius joined the conversation. "There is no need to continue this trial now. Madam Bones, I want every available auror looking for Pettigrew, leave no stone unturned."

"Of course, Minister." Madam Bones looked livid, and understandably so given a criminal had escaped under the nose of her aurors. "Shaklebolt, begin coordinating the search. Dawlish, go speak with Piers in the Magical Law Enforcement Squad Office and see how many Hit Wizards can be spared. Have them report immediately to Shaklebolt." She began barking orders. "Black, you will come with me, we will search the holding cell for any further clues. And Johnston!" The young recruit snapped to attention, looking fearfully at his boss' boss. "You are not to leave my sight until you are cleared in all this, is that understood?"

"Yes, Madam Bones!" He agreed immediately, but Harry suspected that he would have said yes if she had told him to go ship himself off to Azkaban. With the trial having come to an abrupt end everyone went off and Harry found himself being ushered out of the courtroom by Aldora who wanted to get him home, convinced that Pettigrew would come after him to kill him as they had thought Sirius would. But as Harry looked back at Malfoy, who again wore that infuriating smirk, he couldn't help but feel that he was leaving the true danger behind in the courtroom.


A/N - Review please!