Sirius took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. This was the moment. For just a second, he was completely calm and had inner peace. He opened his eyes again, looking over at Shacklebolt, who stood in front of him. He nodded once, getting a nod in return. The Auror turned, pushing the heavy wooden doors open. The carved doors, showing a huge W and an M together with a scale over both letters; Wizengamot is written underneath it. Shacklebolt walked in first, Sirius following in pursuit. They step into a larger room. The floor was a mosaic on the floor, showing two circular patterns.
On one circle stood a high black chair with leather cushions. Sirius sat down on the chair like it was explained. He looked up and around. The room was full to the brim, in quite a few rows. At a podium in front of him was sitting Dumbledore, wearing a rather plain robe, his official robes as chief Warlock. On both sides of him were fourteen wide comfortable armchairs made from dark wood and blood-red velvet. On the top of every Chair was a crest with a coat of arms. Out of the twenty-eight seats, only twenty-one were occupied. These were the Noble Houses of Britain's society. The noble houses, like House Goyle, House Abbott or House Shacklebolt, where the Auror who came in with him sat down at that moment. Even Madam Longbottom was attending. Then there were the Noble and Ancient Houses like Malfoy, Flint and Prewett, the last being unoccupied because the last two living members had died in the great war twelve years ago. It would be picked up sooner or later by the oldest son of the Weasley family if Sirius remembered correctly because their mother was a born Prewett but never took the seat after her brothers died. Sirius shrugged when thinking about it.
He himself never had much interest in the Wizengamot, yet his grandfather had drilled him as a child for whatever reason, hammering political lesson after political lesson in his head so he did wonder, why a child from such a poor family wouldn't take up the mantle, simply for the prestige. His eyes gravitated to the centre four seats right next to Dumbledore. These were the Most Ancient and Noble houses: Ollivander, who was absent, Stringthorne, whose house had gone extinct half a century ago, House Greengrass, of whom the head of the household, Lord Greengrass was sitting in his chair, hands folded in front of himself and lastly, the empty chair of House Black. His eyes looked at the crest, a wand holding hand over three ravens. He had no idea who would be the next Lord Black, but his family was so far stretched, he knew someone would be passed the mantle. The dying of a family was really rare, the goblins of Gringotts, who had their own methods of finding a relative. In fact, only house Stringthorne, House Winters and House Roser had even died out and still, their chairs kept staying where they were, in case there would find an heir, even though House Roser's line ended three hundred years ago. Normally the Most Ancient and Noble houses led the debates but since Ollivander didn't care about politics, Stringthorne is gone, Black is gone and Greengrass mostly stuck in neutral, Sirius had no idea what was going on. Of course, before the whole thing started he had, with Remus help, figured out the state of the Wizengamot.
Behind these sat the members who received the Order of Merlin. There were nineteen at the moment and out of these seventeen were attending. Flamel the famous Alchemist was too old for attending and some young guy called Lockhart was apparently in St. Mungo at the time due to a failed memory charm. Remus had told him it had something to do with Harry and his friends but apparently, he didn't know the whole story either. Sirius made a mental note asking Harry about it if they got to meet again. With the Order of Merlin recipients sat the heads of the six main Ministry departments: Law enforcement, Transportation, International Cooperation, Control of Magical Creatures, Magical Accidents and Catastrophes and the Department of Mysteries. Every head of department was at its place with the only exception of Madam Bones, who was sitting in the chair of her house. The Minister sat behind Dumbledore, together with his undersecretary.
Behind them were the visitor's rows, which were completely filled with journalists, some old friends and all in all just interested people. They were not allowed to speak during the session but were allowed to attend. All in all, Sirius thought he should feel honoured. This had to be the most filled session of the Wizengamot in years. Even a few goblins were sitting in the corner around a very old goblin. Everyone wanted to see the most notorious criminal in history being put to justice. The doors closed behind Sirius and Dumbledore rose to his feet, raising his hands. The murmuring in the chamber quieted down.
"Welcome, honoured heads of houses, Minister, heads of departments, people of the public and of course Mr Black. I hereby declare the lawsuit against Mr Black as begun. Madam Bones, would you kindly?" The stern-looking women rose to her feet, looking over to Sirius for a moment. Sirius clawed his hands around the armrests of his chair. He knew he was innocent and all, but twelve years in Azkaban had taken him to the mindset of doubt towards the legal system. He felt a small pearl of sweat run down his back.
"Honored lords, dutiful heads of departments, this case takes us back about twelve years. Everybody of you is fairly familiar with the case. Mr Black had killed thirteen people in a street the night He-who-shall-not-be-named had died. For that, he was taken into custody by Auror Alastor Moody and was sent to Azkaban. Under the dead people was Peter Pettigrew." Bones placed her hands on the rail in front of her. "This is what we all believed and thought had happened. Black being a Deatheater and turning mad at the loss of his master." Most people looked at Sirius with something of disgust or condescension. Madam Bones raised her hand, pointing to the ceiling.
"However, this information is wrong, through and through." A slight gasp and murmur went through the room. People looked to their neighbours and were speaking in low voices. Dumbledore clapped his hands twice.
"Please, silence. Please, Madam Bones continue." The head of the DMLE nodded to Dumbledore, before turning to the Sirius.
"Mr Black, did you murder fourteen people including Mr Pettigrew?"
Sirius shook his head. Bones smiled ever so slightly.
"Loud please Mr Black."
"No, I did not."
"Very well, did you take up the dark mark and were you a follower of You-Know-Who?"
Again Sirius shook his head, pointing at his chest.
"No, I did not, the only tattoo I ever got was the one from Azkaban and I would rather die then follow Voldemort." A loud gasp and several shrieks came from the audience. Madam Bones pinched her nose while closing her eyes.
"Please Mr Black, refrain from stating that name."
Sirius chuckled a little bit before freezing. Laughing about their fears might not be the best idea at the moment. He cleared his throat.
"I apologize to the court. I will refrain from saying the name of that filthy monster."
Again people gasped, Dumbledore had to call for order. Sirius tried his best not to smile at this. Yet he wasn't reprimanded for this.
"Would you like elaborate why you were in that alley that night?"
Sirius took a deep breath.
"To kill Peter Pettigrew." A small murmur went through the crowd.
"Why would you kill Mr Pettigrew, who I understand was your friend before, if you weren't a follower of He-who-shall-not-be-named?"
"I wanted to kill him for betraying the two people I loved most in my life and deliver them to the person, whose name the court asked me not to say."
"Please state the names of the betrayed people."
"James Potter and Lily J. Potter, born Evans." A loud murmur went through the room, people looking surprised and a lot of photos were taken. Finally, the women next to the Minister raised. She was short, her face had somewhat of a toad look and she wore a completely pink outfit. Sirius frowned a little.
"Honored court why are we listening to this man's foul lies. Everyone knows the hero Pettigrew died by his hand. There is no proof for any of his claims."
Madam Bones turned her head to the undersecretary and Sirius noticed the disgust on her face when she started speaking.
"Madam Undersecretary, let me remind you, this is a court session, therefore it is led by the head of the department of law enforcement. Let me also remind you, this is a fair trial so the accused gets his chance to answer the questions. Please refrain from interrupting or I will have you removed from the court." The pink wearing lady turned almost purple in her face and sat down abruptly. Madam Bones again showed the smallest of smiles before turning back to Sirius.
"Mr Black, since the undersecretary asked for proof, do you have some for your claims? Since you are the son of a noble house, your family magic turns Verisaterum useless, as everyone in this court knows. "
Sirius nodded, holding up his finger.
"Yes, Madam Bones I have. My wand, taken from me by the DMLE twelve years ago. I was informed the DMLE still has it in its possession and has checked it for last used spells. Madam Bones, would you please tell us what these spells were?" Amelia nodded herself holding up a paper.
"Two times the Lumos charm, a water conjunction charm and two times the Accio charm." She lowered the paper.
"Thank you. I was taken by Alastor Moody. Did he see me casting one of these charms before he caught me?" Sirius cast his eyes over the gathered lords. While most had seemed rather bored at the beginning the had turned to interesting looks.
"No, he had not Mr Black. He found you unconscious due to the explosion and took hold of your wand instantly."
"Thank you again Madam Bones. I could let people wonder about my relationship with the Potters and other minor things, but I think there is one witness who will clear my name. I, therefore" and now Sirius couldn't resist the urge to smile. "call forth Peter Pettigrew as my witness."
Silence followed. You could hear a needle drop at the moment until Madam Bones raised her voice.
"Bring in Mr Pettigrew."
The whole court blew up in shouts, people rising to their feet, calling for Bones to quit and other less savoury things. The doors behind Sirius opened and again the whole room fell suddenly silent. Peter was pulled inside, chains around hands and ankles. His head was down, he looked like he had cried. Every pair of eyes followed him over the floor until he came to stop next to Sirius. Black himself stared at Dumbledore, unwilling to look at his former friend, gritting his teeth. Madam Bones raised her voice again.
"I call for Veritaserum, does the court agree?" A murmur of approval went through the room. Everybody leaned forward, watching as an Auror stepped forward and pulled open Pettigrew's mouth. Three drops went down his throat.
Bones nodded and looked at the man.
"State your name."
"Peter Pettigrew." Peters words were slurred and slow.
Bones nodded, folding her hands.
"Mr Pettigrew, why did you kill twelve muggles in the wake of Halloween 1981?"
Peters' eyes were cloudy and his words were slightly slurred when he talked.
"To escape from Padfoot." A frown appeared on Madam Bones. Sirius grasped the armrests of his chair so hard, his knuckles were white.
"Who is Padfoot?"
Peter slowly turned his head, pointing at Sirius.
"Padfoot is the nickname of Sirius Black."
"Why were you escaping from Mr Black?"
Pettigrew turned his head back, looking at Madam Bones while not really seeing her.
"Because I knew he would hunt me forever."
"Why would Mr Black hunt you?"
Peters eyes even though he was under the influence of Veritaserum, turned to the floor, like he was ashamed.
"He would hunt me because I betrayed Prongs and Lils."
Sirius almost jumped out of his chair, only held back by the Auror between them, still, his yell was heard clearly through the room.
"You have no right to call them by their nicknames!"
Again Madam Bones pinched her nose while sighing.
"Please Mr Black refrain from interrupting. You wouldn't be the first accused whos trial took place without him." Sirius slowly settled back in his chair, this time not apologising. He was still seething with hate.
"Mr Pettigrew refrain from using nicknames. Who did you betray?"
Peters' voice was a little broken like he was crying inside but the cries didn't come out.
"James and Lily Potter."
"To whom do you betray them?"
"To the Dark Lord."
Again silence filled the room. Amelia Bones straightened her posture.
"That is all the questions I have for the witness. Is there anyone else who has a question?"
Again the pink wearing women rose to her feet.
"Mr Pettigrew, how did you escape Black and how were you able to stay hidden for over twelve years?"
Peters' eyes turned to her slowly, squinting slightly.
"I turned into my Animagus form and hid like a rat in the home of the Weasley family."
"You are an unregistered Animagus?"
Peter nodded slowly, blinking for the first time since the Veritaserum had been used.
"I, Sirius and James turned Animagi at school."
"Why were you-"
Dumbledore rose to his feet.
"I don't think these questions are important for Mr Black's case. Does the court agree?" Again murmurs of agreement could be heard. Since no one else rose for a question, Peter was taken away again. Sirius let out a deep breath he didn't realise he had held in. Again Madam Bones raised to her feet.
"Mr Black do you have any other pieces of evidence you want the court to take into consideration?" Sirius shook his head and after a moment he raised his voice.
"No, I have not Madam Bones."
She nodded to herself turning to Dumbledore while sitting down. The old wizard raised and raised his hands.
"Honored Lords and Ladies, Minister, members of the Order of Merlin, heads of the departments. In the case of Mr Black's followership to the Dark Lords, how does the court find?" Sirius felt again his back prickling. This was it, the charges and the judgement. Should he have told a long monologue? Should he have brought forth the other evidence? People raised their wands, some turning red others blue. Sirius didn't even need the colour of the lantern next to Dumbledore to see a sea of blue lights. The lantern determined if an appeal was turned over or agreed on. It was ancient and could not be tampered with. Also, it only recognized wands that had been authorized.
"Mr Black is cleared of the charge of being a follower of the dark lord. In the charge of spying for the Dark Lord, how does the court adjudicate?"
Again a sea of blue was to be seen. Sirius' hands were clutched around the armrests again, his breathing shallow. This was all minor shit. The murder, that was what this was all about.
"Mr Black is cleared of the charge of being a spy for the dark lord. In the charge of murder against Mr Pettigrew, how does the court adjudicate?"
This time every wand turned blue. No one wanted to look stupid enough to decline after seeing Pettigrew in person. Dumbledore nodded.
"Mr Black is also cleared of the charge of killing Peter Pettigrew. In the charge of murder against twelve people, how does the court adjudicate?"
Sirius' heart raced and raced. His eyes flew over the ranks, looking while slowly, after an eternity you would think, people, started raising their wands. He tried to count the blues as quickly as he could still he wasn't even half-finished when Dumbledore raised his voice.
"Mr Black is cleared of the charge of killing twelve people." Sirius felt like a ton of worry had just been lifted off his shoulders. While everyone has told him he would be free and all, he had this dread, this worry, about returning to that hellhole.
"Mr Black you are hereby cleared of all charges against you. In the name of the Wizengamot I hereby decla-"
"Hem Hem!" Again the pink wearing lady had risen, shaking off the hand of the Minister who looked rather annoyed by her.
Dumbledore turned since she was behind him."Ah, yes, Madam Umbridge, what is the matter?"
The toad lady, because Sirius decided to call her exactly that from now on, raised her chin, pointing at the Sirius.
"There is proof, this man is an unregistered Animagus. That is against the law." She quipped.
Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head, turning back to Sirius. "Mr Black, how do you plead?"
Sirius shrugged. "Guilty, I guess?"
Dumbledore nodded sighing himself. This was idiotic and Dumbledore knew that women just did this to piss on the Sirius Parade.
"Mr Black, the Wizengamot hereby sentences you to a fine of 50 Galleons for being an unregistered Animagus." Sirius nodded while the pink wearing lady sat down with a smug smile. Before anyone could say something, Madam Bones rose again.
Dumbledore turned to her smiling. "Ah yes, Madam Bones?"
She folded her hands. "Since Mr Black has been put into Azkaban and was there, while I was head of the DMLE and he was innocent, I take it as a matter of pride to pay for Mr Black's fine."
Sirius grinned brightly and there was this twinkle in Dumbledores eyes when nodded, smiling brightly at the witch that sat down, smugly smiling at a flustered Umbridge.
"Very well Madam Bones. Mr Black, I resume where I left of. You are hereby declared of all charges except the charge of being an illegal animagus. Well done my boy!" Dumbledore started clapping and the only moment later the whole hall exploded in roaring applause.
Sirius smiled at the crowd, seeing Remus between the people swiping his tears from his cheeks. Sirius rose from the chair he hadn't left during this trial, unsure how to handle this reaction. Twelve years ago, he would have known, now people made him feel weird and distant. He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. Slowly the applause died out.
Dumbledore rose to his feet again.
"Mr Black, would you like to sit down in the visitor's row, so we could continue this session?" Sirius nodded and was about to turn to the visitor's row when a snarling, creaking voice rose.
"One moment please?" Every eye turned to the goblins in the corner. The old one rose to its feet, making his way to the centre of the hall. He had even more wrinkled skin then the others, his ear was a little torn and he had a sword hanging from his hip. In his hand was a walking stick.
Dumbledore bowed slightly. "What can the Wizangamot do for Ragnok the thirteen of clan Silver grip?"
The goblin grumbled a little, turning to Dumbledore. He pointed at Sirius. "This chamber will be on hold until I have spoken with this man. I invoke paragraph sixteen sub-article four of the two hundred- and twelve Accord of races."
Dumbledore frowned for a moment, obviously thinking through the hundreds and hundreds of paragraphs, articles and treaties, that had been made between the Ministry and the goblins. He then nodded. Somewhere behind him, he could hear a female voice murmuring "Impertinent half-breed!"
"Very well, how long shall we postpone?" Dumbledore asked kindly but firm.
The goblin looked up at the slightly confused Sirius. "About half an hour would be enough."
Dumbledore nodded, looking around.
"Honoured lords and ladies, Minister, heads of the departments and members of the Order of Merlin, we will take a half-hour break. Thank you all for your patience."
Ragnok already had turned wobbling to the door. He turned his head back.
"Follow me, boy!" Without looking a second time, he left the room, Sirius following quickly.