The Trial - Part 1
Chapter 7
The next couple of days was oddly, very… normal. Harry slept in, a luxury he hadn't had for months what with his OWLS he had sat for the past two weeks, which felt like he had written ages ago. It was very comforting and relaxing to wake up feeling well-rested.
At least, as well-rested as possible. He had not forgotten the prophecy. He didn't think he could ever wipe out the memory of Professor Trelawney's hoarse, distorted voice that had doomed him to an uncertain future.
Besides, he had another thing to worry about. Sirius' trial was coming up in three days and they had yet to get word from Dumbledore about how to proceed with it.
The third morning which was a Sunday, Sirius had woken up first and made scrambled eggs and toast. He was flicking through the newspaper that Lupin had brought in earlier, commenting casually at the day's Daily Prophet.
"And after an entire year of name-calling, Harry Potter is now 'The Chosen One', huh? Bloody hypocrites, the lot."
"Seems like they already know about the prophecy," said Harry nervously.
"No, they don't! There are only three people in the entire world right now who know about it and that's including Dumbledore and us. The Daily Prophet is just making up fanciful rumours, no doubt wanting to sell their papers out. Business must have been bad after your Quibbler interview…"
He shovelled scrambled eggs into his mouth with a fork as he looked up at Harry thoughtfully. "By the way, how did you manage that?"
"The interview with the Quibbler? Hermione's had Skeeter under her control ever since the end of the tournament. She's a beetle, an unregistered animagus, you know."
Sirius' eyes widened disbelievingly. "Skeeter was clever enough to become an animagus? I thought that daft cow didn't have an ounce of sense in that brain of hers!"
Harry shrugged. "Beats me how she did it. But Hermione threatened to reveal her secret, so Skeeter did what she asked her to."
Sirius smirked. "Smart girl."
He continued with his paper and read out again, "Looks like Dumbledore's been reinstated into the Wizengamot. About time."
"That gives us a better chance with your trial right?" said Harry. Having Dumbledore as the Chief Warlock could only help them.
"Let's hope," Sirius muttered darkly.
Harry's friends Ron and Hermione had written to him via Hedwig, both quite annoyed that he had left before they had woken up and also full of sympathy and comfort for the upcoming trial on Wednesday. They had filled him in on what was happening at Hogwarts and how Umbridge had been sacked. Sirius had had a good laugh reading Ron's detailed description of Peeves whacking Umbridge alternatively with McGonagall's walking stick and a sock full of chalk.
Dumbledore had dropped by that evening. He had brought along the letter from the Ministry issued for Sirius containing the details of the trial, which was to be a closed one. Dumbledore had said that as the Ministry was already facing public scorn, it was wise of them to keep it private. They had gone over their defence that they would all present and Dumbledore had also given pointers about who should talk and when.
They had decided Sirius and Dumbledore were to be the witnesses for the defence. They would rope in Kingsley Shacklebolt when they exposed the lack of documents convicting Sirius. They couldn't drag in Lupin for a werewolf's statement would not be considered by all as worthy of consideration.
After much pleading and pestering on Harry's part, Dumbledore had agreed to let Harry come to the trial. Though he was not of age, if the need arose Harry would be called in to give testimony. Besides, the Daily Prophet was heaping praises on Harry; the good publicity could only help them for once.
oOo
Wednesday, June 26
The day of the trial came by quickly. Harry had hardly slept, remembering the same feeling last year when he had been to his own hearing for producing underage magic. Sirius had been rather quiet in the morning too as he pushed a plate of bangers and mash towards Harry, he himself eating nothing.
Sirius had dressed in plain, non-descript black robes that looked faded from disuse. His face was clean-shaven and his long hair that somewhat lacked its lustre after his stint in Azkaban was just below his shoulders. He had gained some weight after Azkaban, but he was still very lean, his skin stretched taut on his high cheekbones.
He looked better than when Harry had seen him the first time in the Shrieking Shack, but there was still a long way to go in Harry's opinion. Lupin had left early in the morning for work, but not before wishing them the best and pulling Sirius into an embrace, murmuring words of comfort and wishing him luck. He had wanted to come to the trial too, but Lupin himself said having a werewolf in the Wizengamot would not do any favours in aiding Sirius' innocence.
After half an hour of aimless moping, they agreed to get going. Before they reached the door of Number 12, Sirius pulled Harry aside. "If anything goes wrong, promise me you'll… take care of yourself and not get into trouble?"
Feeling a sense of foreboding, Harry swallowed down his fear, trying to be braver. "Sirius, nothing's going to go wrong. You're innocent! It's time everybody knew that!"
"Just promise me, Harry," he pleaded.
Harry wondered if he should plainly refuse. No doubt he was going to get into trouble, if the last five years of his life were any indication. Deciding it would be better to placate his godfather who was already anxious as he was, Harry crossed his fingers inside his pocket. "I promise."
Sirius looked at him for a moment longer, anxiety and worry creasing his eyes, before he nodded and clapped a hand on his shoulder. He held out the napkin that Dumbledore had arranged as a portkey for them and they were gone.
They had portkeyed straight to the Auror Headquarters where Kingsley Shacklebolt stood waiting for them along with four other Aurors. He didn't talk to them, as per Dumbledore's orders. It didn't need to be known that Kingsley already knew that Sirius was innocent and had been giving false trails to the Ministry.
The Aurors bound Sirius' hands with an 'Incarcerous' and after searching him with the Probity Probes he was frog-marched with Harry trailing behind, both of them surrounded by Aurors. They passed the familiar Auror office with its cubicles and flying memos. Heads turned to stare at them and Harry dutifully looked forward, avoiding their probing gazes.
They stopped in front of the by now familiar doors to Courtroom Ten. He had never imagined he would be back again in this dreaded room so soon and yet here he was.
Sirius was marched in first, straight to the chair in the middle of the room which looked the same as ever and the mutterings ceased. Harry walked forward anxiously and took a seat in the benches on the side of the room.
"This is a private trial and you are underage, Mr. Potter. I am afraid you are not allowed to witness the court in session," came the hoarse voice of a man up in the seats.
Sirius looked up, irritation lacing his voice. "He wasn't underage when you tried him here last year, then?"
Madam Bones seemed to be gathering herself to answer, when Harry spoke, drawing attention from everyone. "I am his godson. It's not against the law if family is present, is it?"
The entire Wizengamot were staring at him and Harry was torn between looking away and staring back defiantly. His nerves settled when he saw Sirius grin at him from his seat.
Madam Bones gave a look of exasperation and she spoke in her booming voice. "No, it is not. We may begin."
Harry watched Sirius who was studying each and every one of the members of the Wizengamot. There were only a handful of people other than the Wizengamot, including some Aurors and Ministry representatives. Dumbledore caught his eye from the Judges' table and gave a faint smile. Harry felt a surge of confidence and looked up politely waiting for the hearing to start.
oOo
A/N: Crouch Jr.'s mother was present in his trial right? So maybe it is a law in the Wizarding World :)
I won't go into too much detail of the trial. It would just be pointless as we all know Sirius' defence and it would be like reading POA all over again. It will still be the focus of the next chapter though. Reviews are love!
